Mermaid
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Mermaid is Shanghai Electric's bionic wheeled humanoid robot designed specifically for physical inspection and electrical panel operations in confined, narrow, and hazardous industrial spaces. Showcased at the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC), Mermaid features a slender bio-inspired wheeled base, an agile humanoid upper body, and DexHand dexterous end effectors. Driven by computer vision models and autonomous trajectory generation, Mermaid identifies push-buttons, rotary selector knobs, and air circuit breakers, generating real-time collision-free paths to manipulate switchgear without manual programming. This design isolates human operators from arc-flash risks and restricted equipment corridors.
Quick Overview & Key Facts
Mermaid is a humanoid robot made by Shanghai Electric in China, launched in 2026 and built for autonomous circuit breaker switching, control panel button and knob manipulation, and electrical cabinet thermal inspection. Its estimated price is Commercial Enterprise / On Request (Est. $50,000 - $70,000).
- Dimensions
- 165 cm × 46 cm × 42 cm (Slender profile optimized for narrow corridors)
- Weight
- 62 kg
- Top speed
- 1.2 m/s (4.3 km/h)
- Battery runtime
- 5.0–6.5 hours of continuous inspection and switching
- Charging time
- 1.2 hours via automated docking station
What Can Mermaid Do?
Core operational tasks and activities demonstrated or performed by Mermaid.
Real-World Applications of Mermaid
Industries, working environments, and deployment suitability for Mermaid.
Mermaid Capabilities
Inherent physical, perceptual, and cognitive abilities built into Mermaid.
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Image Gallery
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Robot Specifications
Values without a Confirmed badge are compiled from public sources and may not be manufacturer-verified.
Not yet published by Shanghai Electric: warranty terms, safety certifications, EMC compliance, IP rating, noise level, expected lifespan, maintenance schedule, firmware version and 7 more.
Robot Timeline
Key milestones in this robot's development and rollout
Shanghai Electric debuts its first industrial humanoid, the bipedal SUYUAN, at WAIC 2025.
Source: Laotian Times ↗
Shanghai Electric shows the Mermaid wheeled humanoid at WAIC 2026, which identifies switches, buttons and knobs and plans its own operating path for industrial control work.
Source: Robotics & Automation News ↗
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TUOYUAN
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TUOYUAN is Shanghai Electric's heavy-duty industrial wheeled humanoid robot engineered for high-precision factory automation and flexible manufacturing. Unveiled at the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC), TUOYUAN combines an omnidirectional mobile base with an articulated humanoid upper body and dual high-load arms. The robot features proprietary planetary roller screws—delivering more than three times the load capacity of standard ball screws—and DexHand dexterous end effectors. Powered by an embodied intelligence foundation model and force-position hybrid control, TUOYUAN executes multi-specification electrical connector insertion, raw material sorting, and loading/unloading of automotive sheet metal components.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Q1. What is Mermaid, and what problem is it designed to solve?
Mermaid is Shanghai Electric’s bionic wheeled humanoid robot, designed to identify and operate controls in industrial electrical environments.
Q2. What are the main capabilities and key features of Mermaid?
According to Shanghai Electric coverage, it can recognize buttons, knobs, and switches, then generate operation paths in real time.
Q3. Who is Mermaid built for, and which industries can benefit from it?
It is intended for industrial settings, especially power equipment, manufacturing, energy, and related maintenance workflows.
Q4. Is Mermaid a commercial product or still a research prototype?
As of 2026, it appears to be a demonstration-stage industrial robot, with pilots discussed rather than broad commercial release.
Q5. Is Mermaid currently available for purchase, and when is it expected to ship?
No public purchase or shipping schedule has been announced; reports say commercialization details remain undisclosed.
Q6. How does Mermaid actually work in real-world environments?
It uses visual perception and embodied AI methods to detect controls and plan motion without task-specific markers or preset tracks.
Q7. When was Mermaid announced or officially launched?
Mermaid was publicly shown at WAIC 2026 in Shanghai, alongside other Shanghai Electric embodied-AI robots.
Q8. How is Mermaid different from other robots in the same category?
It is positioned as a wheeled humanoid focused on electrical control tasks, rather than general-purpose walking or logistics-only work.
Q9. Does Mermaid require additional development or customization after purchase?
Shanghai Electric has not described a standard retail package, but industrial robots of this type typically need site integration and workflow tuning.
Q10. What is the future roadmap or planned upgrades for Mermaid?
The company has said it plans pilot deployments in its own facilities first, then broader use in energy and heavy-industry settings.
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