Written by Akimoto Yukiko
Chinese carmaker XPeng continues to prepare for the launch of its humanoid robot — following Tesla’s steps. The company has secured a new design patent for its humanoid robot, specifically covering an innovative “leg structure,” according to a new patent published on Thursday.
After teasing its humanoid robot last August, XPeng unveiled its robot named ‘Iron’ announcing it features “more than 60 joints and 200 degrees of freedom” and technology shared from its EV models.
According to the patent’s description, the design focuses on improving the efficiency, stability, and responsiveness of humanoid robots by integrating advanced mechanical components and linear actuators. The Guangzhou-based company revealed it has been working on humanoid robots over the last five years.
The structure includes thigh support, shank support, and foot support, connected by hip, knee, and ankle joint assemblies.
According to the document, linear actuators are strategically placed at each joint to optimize space, reduce the inertia of the leg components, and enable faster movement responses.
Additionally, the rotary mounting frames and motor templates improve flexibility and precise control, allowing the robot to perform dynamic motions with better stability.
In the filing, XPeng says the design has wide-ranging applications, from service robots capable of navigating challenging terrains to industrial and healthcare settings where dynamic stability and precision are critical.
In November, XPeng delivered 30,900 vehicles, marking a year-on-year increase of 54%. This is the first time XPeng’s monthly deliveries surpassed 30,000 units and the third consecutive month of setting a new monthly delivery record. From January to November, XPeng delivered a total of around 153,400 vehicles, representing a year-on-year growth of 26.25%.
According to the XPeng Q3 2024 financial report released in November, the company’s total revenue for the quarter reached 10.1 billion yuan ($1.41 billion), representing a year-on-year growth of 18.4%.
During the earnings call, XPeng stated that its operating losses are narrowing and that it plans to launch several new models featuring range extender technology next year, with the goal of achieving breakeven by the end of the year.
Earlier this week, XPeng Chairman He Xiaopeng announced on his personal Weibo that the MONA M03 achieved monthly deliveries exceeding 10,000 units for three consecutive months, with a total of 40,000 units delivered to date.
Written by Akimoto Yukiko
