BYD has unveiled the design of its first self-developed humanoid robot following the publication of an “Embodied AI Robot” design patent by the China National Intellectual Property Administration on October 9, 2026. The patent describes a smart robot designed to walk, maintain balance and interact with its surroundings in service, educational and industrial settings.
The design uses a black-and-white color scheme and an anthropomorphic form. It includes a rounded, arc-shaped head without a display screen, as well as a torso, arms and legs equipped with multiple joints.
The robot resembles “Xiao Di,” or “little D,” a humanoid robot previously previewed by BYD. However, the company has not confirmed whether the patented design represents the final production version of Xiao Di.
Previously disclosed specifications for Xiao Di include a height of 1.61 meters, a weight of 58.5 kg and 31 degrees of freedom. The robot also has a dexterous hand with repetitive positioning accuracy of ±1 mm. These capabilities are intended to support tasks including grasping objects, interacting through gestures and providing explanations by pointing.
BYD unveils robot design; Xiao Di has 31 degrees of freedom
The patent reveals BYD’s first self-developed humanoid design, while previously disclosed Xiao Di specifications show the intended scale and dexterity.
Beyond the design, BYD formed its team in 2022, invested in Agibot in August 2023 and acquired a Percibot stake in April 2025.
BYD began developing embodied artificial intelligence in 2022, when it established a dedicated research team. The company plans to use its industrial scale to customize robot hardware and systems while improving perception, decision-making and execution capabilities.
The company has also expanded its involvement in the robotics sector through investments and factory testing. BYD invested in Agibot in August 2023 and acquired a stake in Percibot in April 2025. Its Changsha plant has also hosted Ubtech’s Walker S1 industrial humanoid robot for material-handling and identification tasks.
BYD executives have previously indicated that humanoid robots could be deployed across the company’s dealership network. Planned duties include greeting customers, explaining vehicle features and demonstrating in-vehicle infotainment systems.
Source: CarNewsChina.com
