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- China's Agibot takes on Tesla
Good morning, robotics enthusiasts. Chinese robotics startup Agibot is ramping up its humanoid production to 5,000 units this year—on par with Tesla’s Optimus targets.
As superpowers China and the U.S. compete in the humanoid race, Chinese firms like Agibot are seen as leaders in agile robots and hardware, while the U.S. dominates in AI—the 'brain' of humanoids. But is that gap closing fast?
In today’s robotics rundown:
Agibot’s army of robots rivaling Tesla
Tiny liquid robots to target cancer cells
UC students 3D-print a $20 walking bot
Tesla to launch first robotaxis in Austin
Quick hits on other robotics news
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
AGIBOT
Image source: Agibot
The Rundown: Shanghai-based robotics startup Agibot just announced a plan to scale its production capabilities and deliver up to 5,000 humanoids this year—matching the targets set by Elon Musk for Tesla’s Optimus humanoid.
The details:
Agibot is investing in cutting-edge factories equipped to handle large-scale production of Lingxi X2, its latest humanoid.
The company aims to deliver between 3,000 and 5,000 robots in 2025, up from fewer than 1,000 units in 2024.
This month, it also launched an AI model—Genie Operator-1—to enhance X2’s ability to interpret human actions and perform real-world tasks.
The general-purpose humanoid debuted in March and comes with the ability to walk, run, ride a bike, and interpret emotions.
Why it matters: Agibot, co-founded by Peng Zhihui—a former participant in Huawei's 'Genius Youth' program—is a key player in China's push to become a robotics powerhouse, alongside XPeng, UBTech, and Unitree. It remains to be seen just how quickly they can match the AI standards set by U.S. rivals like Tesla and Figure.
BIOTECH ROBOTICS
Image source: Science Advances, Vol. 11, No. 12, Jeon et al.
The Rundown: Inspired by the dynamic behavior of biological cells, South Korean researchers have designed a tiny, gummy-like liquid robot that can help target cancer cells, among many other use cases, in the future.
The details:
The robot, PB, is made of water droplets coated with densely packed Teflon particles, creating a hydrophobic shell that maintains the liquid's shape.
Each bot is controlled using sound and can shape-shift, pick up debris, move across water, and merge with another PB—without losing structural integrity.
They behave the way pretty much like cells, imitating biological forms and functions, with several potential use cases, starting with biomedicine.
For instance, in the future, the rice grain-sized robots can help with drug delivery, invasive procedures, or even target and destroy cancerous cells.
Why it matters: Though still in the research phase, these robust liquid bots hold immense potential. Beyond drug delivery and tumor targeting, their ability to navigate narrow spaces could prove invaluable for machinery maintenance, disaster response, and even environmental cleanup.
UC SAN DIEGO
Image source: UC San Diego Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
The Rundown: Researchers at the University of California, San Diego have developed a 3D-printed, six-legged robot that can “walk” without any electronics, using only compressed gas for power.
The details:
The robot was created using a desktop 3D printer and off-the-shelf printing material, costing only $20 to manufacture.
The entire bot, including its artificial muscles and control systems, was printed in one go using a single soft material.
A pneumatic oscillating circuit controls its movement, coordinating the behavior of the six legs using air pressure.
The best part? It can traverse different surfaces, from turf to underwater, with the option to operate continuously for three days (with a constant air supply).
Why it matters: These robots have immense potential in environments where electronics may fail, such as areas with strong radiation, disaster zones, or space exploration. Researchers are also exploring ways to store compressed gas inside the bots and integrate manipulators, like grippers, to unlock new possibilities.
TESLA
Image source: Tesla
The Rundown: Tesla is set to debut its autonomous rideshare service in Austin starting this June, with CEO Elon Musk describing the service as “unsupervised” and operating with “no one in the car.”
The details:
Tesla is expected to use its internal fleet of Model 3s and Model Ys rather than the futuristic Cybercab, which won’t be in production at least until 2026.
The robotaxis will be equipped with what Tesla says is its “unsupervised” Full Self-Driving (FSD) software, which means its Level 2 ADAS jumps to Level 4.
Musk describes the service as unsupervised with "no one in the car," but the company is likely to employ teleoperation for remote monitoring and support.
Tesla currently operates autonomous unsupervised FSD at its factory in Fremont, with vehicles driving themselves at low speeds to loading docks.
Why it matters: Operating unsupervised in cities is a major leap for Tesla’s technology, though the company’s messaging remains unclear on how it will unfold. One thing is certain: Austin is the new battleground for robotaxis, with both Waymo and Tesla making their moves in a matter of weeks.
QUICK HITS
📰 Everything else in robotics today
Tesla, Boston Dynamics, and Agility Robotics met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to demonstrate products and push for new policies boosting robotics in the U.S.
U.S. robotics company Figure shared on X a video of its humanoid 02 robot performing “learned, natural walking,” a step up from its prior bent-knee gait.
China announced a new venture capital fund to boost robotics and AI in the country, expected to attract nearly 1T yuan ($137.8B) over the next 20 years.
Unitree Robotics, a Chinese robotics firm, reportedly confirmed its consistent profitability since 2020, with no plans for a new funding round.
Northeastern University engineers developed a hybrid robot that can accomplish a task that has long challenged roboticists: screwing in a lightbulb.
Chinese social media influencer Zhang Genyuan went viral by renting a Unitree Robotics humanoid for $1.4K a day to cook, clean, and go on dates with him.
Tesla is set to launch in Saudi Arabia on April 10, entering a market where electric vehicle adoption stands at just 1% of all car sales.
Robotics company Dyna Robotics, based in California, secured a $23.5M seed round as it works to make embodied AI robots affordable for smaller businesses.
Contoro Robotics raised $12M in Series A funding to scale its AI-powered robots for unloading trailers and containers.
German manufacturer igus, known for making motion plastics and robotic components, announced that it made €1.105B ($1.19B) in sales last year.
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Rowan, Jennifer, and Joey—The Rundown’s editorial team