Humanoid Robot to Build Cars for Chinese Automaker

A Chinese automaker has unveiled a new wheeled, humanoid robot that it says will be deployed in car manufacturing starting in 2026.

The third generation of GoMate was unveiled by the state-owned Guangzhou Automobile Group at an event in Shanghai.

GoMate, which has 38 degrees of freedom, is claimed to be the first robot of its type to use either two or four wheels to self-balance and drive. This allows it to adjust to different environments.

Credit: Guangzhou Automobile Group

According to GAC, it delivers “precise motion control, accurate navigation and positioning and autonomous decision-making,” coupled with “strong stability and reliability.”

In four-wheeled mode, GoMate is around 4.5 feet tall and it is claimed to be able to go up and down stairs, climb slopes and negotiate obstacles. In two-wheeled mode it is taller, at 5.7 feet and takes up less space.

By incorporating GAC’s autonomous driving algorithm, GoMate is able to plan its own movements, both inside and outside, ensuring “centimeter-level” positioning accuracy, and it also makes use of tech that enables it to detect – and perceive changes in – obstacles up to 328 feet away.

The ongoing collection of data and optimization of deep learning, meanwhile, lets it constantly evolve its capabilities.

However, the bot can easily switch from AI-driven autonomous control to remote control, further expanding its potential usage.

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On top of this ability to function in complex environments, GoMate boasts decent efficiency, too, using around 80% less energy than similar bots. This is attributed to GAC’s solid-state battery, which provides up to six hours of functionality – sufficient, according to the company, for long-term tasks or even “environmental exploration.”

Other highlights include dexterous hands, which offer a balance of flexibility and the ability to cope with high loads, a micro low-voltage servo driver with a capacity of up to 20A and a high-performance axial flux motor.

Although GAC describes GoMate as a smart tool that could ultimately be deployed in several areas, including security, health care, logistics and education, it is initially planning to use the bot on the production lines of two of its automotive brands in China, GAC Trumpchi and GAC Aion.

Limited production of the humanoid robot will get underway in 2026, with large-scale mass production the ultimate goal.

The use of humanoid robots in car manufacturing has been gathering momentum over the past couple of years. In January, BMW confirmed it would use California-based Figure’s robots at its plant in South Carolina.