Core Content Summary
Zhijian Dongli is a corporeal intelligence company that has been established for less than a year and has set two “fastest” records: first, it completed the delivery of 100 robots (their first product, the i7 Pro) in less than a year, breaking industry benchmarks; second, it raised five rounds of funding within half a year (with a total of 2 billion yuan and a valuation exceeding 1 billion US dollars), becoming the fastest unicorn in its field. The core team members come from Li Auto’s autonomous driving and mass production systems, and the company insists on developing all aspects of its technology in-house (models, actuators, data, and ecosystems). The i7 Pro is a versatile robot platform that has been implemented in various industries such as industrial manufacturing (CNC machining, optical module production), retail, and smart logistics. Zhijian Dongli positions itself as the “craftsman of the corporeal intelligence era,” with the goal of building the infrastructure for the robotics industry and promoting its widespread adoption across different sectors.
Detailed Analysis
1. The Speed Behind Their Success: How Did They Achieve 100 Robots in a Year and Become a Unicorn in Half a Year?
Zhijian Dongli’s rapid progress is not accidental; it relies on three key factors:
- A Team with Mass Production Experience: The CEO, Jia Peng, was previously the VP of autonomous driving at Li Auto, the chairman, Wang Kai, is a partner and CTO at Li Auto, and the COO, Wang Jiajia, worked on autonomous driving teams at Bosch. These individuals have extensive experience in the intelligent automotive industry, understanding technology, supply chains, and how to transform laboratory concepts into market-ready products (such as applying Li Auto’s mass production methods directly).
- Investment from Leading Investors: Giants like Tencent, Alibaba, and Sequoia are investing because they see the potential of corporeal intelligence (the trend of robots replacing human labor) and trust the team’s ability to bring these technologies to market. Autonomous driving and robotics are complex projects that require a combination of software and hardware, and there are few teams with such expertise.
- A Comprehensive Technology Strategy: Unlike many companies that focus only on AI models or hardware, Zhijian Dongli develops everything in-house—from models to actuators and data systems, as well as developer tools. This integrated approach ensures smoother coordination and lower integration costs, allowing for faster delivery.
2. The i7 Pro: More Than Just a Laboratory Toy
The i7 Pro is not a novelty for demonstration purposes; it is a versatile platform with practical features:
- Durable Hardware: It uses automotive-grade electronics, ensuring long-term reliability. It has a 1-meter reach and seven-degree-of-freedom actuators, enabling precise operations such as loading and unloading CNC machines and assembling optical modules.
- Modular Design: The grippers can be replaced (two-finger, three-finger, or dexterous types), and the interface is open for customization. This allows customers to adapt the robot to their specific needs without purchasing a new model, such as switching out grippers for different tasks in factories.
- Wide Range of Applications: It can be used in industrial manufacturing, retail, and logistics. In the future, it may also be integrated into home services (greeting guests, delivering items), but for now, its focus is on industrial applications where the use cases are clear and the demand is well-defined.
3. The Technical Foundation: Four Pillars That Make Robots Intelligent and User-Friendly
Zhijian Dongli’s technology is designed for practical use:
- Native Corporeal Models: They have developed the LaST₀ model, which can process multiple types of information (visual, tactile, verbal) and generate appropriate actions. For example, it knows how to grasp and place objects based on visual cues.
- Data-Driven Learning: The robot collects data during use (e.g., the force applied when grasping or the path taken) and uses this information to improve its performance over time.
- Integrated Actuators: Hardware is designed according to automotive standards, making components interchangeable across different models, reducing costs and facilitating maintenance.
- Developer Ecosystem: They provide an open platform with tools (simulation, deployment tools) that enable others to quickly develop robot applications. For example, someone developing a catering robot can use their platform without starting from scratch.
4. A Practical Approach to Market Deployment
Zhijian Dongli chose the CNC machining industry as its first application because it faces real challenges:
- Real-World Needs: Factories are in need of robots due to a shortage of workers and high labor costs. The market for CNC machines is large, and there is a significant demand for automation.
- Overcoming Barriers: Real-world environments (e.g., oily floors, incompatible machine interfaces, worker resistance) require careful consideration. Zhijian Dongli collaborates with customers to address these issues, such as modifying the workplace and adjusting robot design, and works with machine manufacturers to improve compatibility.
- Collaborative Manufacturing: They partner with suppliers to produce robot components, which not only tests the robots’ capabilities but also helps optimize the components.
5. A Critical Perspective on the Industry
Zhijian Dongli maintains a realistic view of the current hype around corporeal intelligence:
- Still in the Early Stages: They believe that corporeal intelligence is far from being ready for widespread use, as all aspects (models, hardware, data, and commercialization) are still in the initial phase. The delivery of 100 robots is just the beginning; their goal is to gather real-world feedback.
- Future Plans: They aim to move from industrial applications to more consumer-oriented scenarios, gradually increasing the stability and safety of their products before entering the home market.
- A Period of Adjustment: The industry will go through a phase of skepticism, but they see this as a positive development, as it will force companies to focus on practical solutions rather than relying on hype and funding.
In One Sentence
Zhijian Dongli is a pragmatic company that applies automotive manufacturing expertise to develop practical robots. They aim to make robotics a fundamental part of various industries by tackling real-world challenges and building the necessary infrastructure.