Robotics advancements unveiled at 2026 World Robot Conference

At the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing, several major advancements in robotics were showcased. Xiaomi unveiled its next-generation humanoid robot, Tieda, following four months of real-world training in an electric vehicle factory. Standing 1.70 meters tall and weighing 66kg, Tieda features 66 degrees of freedom. During factory testing, the robot achieved a 98 percent success rate in nut installation tasks, nearing the 99 percent qualification rate of human workers.

In a separate demonstration, the Chinese startup DaxAI debuted the Qiji X1, a ride-on quadrupedal robot described as a ‘Cyber Horse’. Designed for off-road use, heavy lifting, and search-and-rescue, the machine can carry payloads of up to 300kg. DaxAI announced a three-year strategic partnership with JD.com, which will handle the exclusive worldwide pre-sales for the system. The Qiji X1 utilizes DaxBrain-WM AI to navigate difficult terrain such as mud and gravel autonomously.