NIO Explains Its Use of Humanoid Robots in Car Production

In the realm of automotive manufacturing, NIO has introduced the revolutionary use of humanoid robots in its production processes. The company assembled a dedicated humanoid robot team in 2023 which focused on two major ventures: first, integrating humanoid robotic arms to perform multi-task operations in confined spaces using 5G and visual algorithms, and second, incorporating humanoid robots in essential quality control processes.

Yi Peng, NIO's head of humanoid robots, has expressed the company's primary focus on the core technology of humanoid robots including algorithms, dynamic sensing, and larger models. Nio expects that these undertakings will accelerate the automation and intelligence transformation of the automotive industry.

In line with this, the company partnered with UBTECH Robotics, utilizing the Walker S robot in real-time quality inspections. Nio's vision underlines a three-phase approach towards commercializing humanoid robots in automotive manufacturing; scenario identification, focusing on operational capability, and evaluating overall feasibility.

The company's objective is to optimize human form and intelligence to automate traditionally human-dependent automobile manufacturing processes. As per Yi Peng's vision, the large-scale application of humanoid robots could lead to complete industrial automation in automobile manufacturing, heralding a new future for the industry.