Robot IRON’s Skin Cut to Prove Hyper-Realistic Design
Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Xpeng is making headlines with its hyper-realistic humanoid robot, named Iron. Recent developments revealed the extent of its lifelike capabilities, leading many to mistake it for a human in costume.
Demonstrating Hyper-Realistic Design
The founder of Xpeng, He Xiaopeng, took extraordinary measures to prove that Iron is indeed a robot and not a person. In a recent demonstration, he cut into the robot’s synthetic skin, showcasing the mechanical components beneath. This act was necessary due to the overwhelming social media confusion surrounding the robot’s natural movements.
After months of preparation, Xpeng’s team was surprised by the rapid media frenzy that followed the robot’s introduction. Two hashtags related to Iron quickly gained traction on Douyin, the Chinese counterpart of TikTok. Following the video release, Xpeng’s stock initially dipped by 2% before recovering by 1.4%.
Key Features of Iron
- Model: AI VLA 2.0 (Vision-Language-Action)
- Movement: 82 movable joints, allowing for dance and complex actions
- Design: Equipped with a synthetic spine, bionic muscles, and flexible skin
- Variants: Available in male and female versions; female version more compact but harder to produce
During the demonstration, He emphasized the distinct sounds of the cooling system and fans, asserting that these features clearly identify Iron as a machine. Remarkably, the robot continued to move even after revealing its inner workings.
Impact on the Humanoid Robot Industry
This event underscores the advancements in humanoid robot technology in China. Iron represents an upgrade over a previous model introduced last year. The potential applications for such robots appear promising, with companies like Baosteel, China’s largest steel group, already securing Iron as an initial client for use in complex industrial environments.
According to data from the China Robot Industry Development Conference held in Shanghai, the sector saw an impressive revenue increase of approximately 30% in the first three quarters of this year. This growth highlights the burgeoning market for humanoid robots in China.
Xpeng continues to innovate in the humanoid robotics field, pushing the boundaries of design and functionality. Their commitment to developing realistic robot interactions could lead to new applications across various industries.
