Xiaomi Accelerates Robotics Industry Expansion: Partners with Hillhouse Capital to Invest in Kunwei Technology

Recently, Kunwei Technology announced the completion of its Series B financing, with investors including Xiaomi Industry Investment, Sunny Optical Industry Fund, Shenzhen Capital Group, and Hillhouse Capital. This round of financing not only increased the company’s registered capital (from 4.05 million to 4.31 million RMB) but also provided strong financial support for its technological innovation and capacity expansion in the sensor field.

Following the financing, Kunwei Technology will expand its existing six-dimensional force sensor calibration capacity from 15,000 units per year to 30,000 units per year to meet the growing market demand.

With the rapid development of the humanoid robot industry, the prospects for the sensor industry are also becoming increasingly broad. Kunwei Technology’s vice general manager stated in a media interview that sensor companies are expected to begin generating profits by 2025 or 2026, with this year being a key turning point. If several leading humanoid robot companies can successfully achieve mass production, it will significantly accelerate the profitability of the sensor industry.

 

Six-Dimensional Force Sensors: From Technological Breakthrough to Market Application

Founded in 2018, Kunwei Technology focuses on the development of high-precision machine force sensing technology (six-dimensional force sensors) and force control solutions. The company, backed by its technological expertise in intelligent sensors, has become a well-known high-tech enterprise both domestically and internationally.

 

Six-dimensional force sensors, as core components in robotics technology, can measure and feedback six independent forces and torque components in three-dimensional space in real-time. They have wide applications in precision assembly, robot control, industrial automation, and other fields.

Currently, Kunwei Technology’s product line includes six-dimensional force sensors, joint torque sensors, single-axis force sensors, high-precision data acquisition modules, and motion force platforms, covering various application scenarios such as collaborative robots, small-load six-axis industrial robots, and humanoid robots. Its products have been widely applied across multiple industries.

"In recent years, the company has established strategic partnerships with leading humanoid robot companies in China. Some of the force-sensing products for humanoid robots have already entered mass production," Kunwei Technology revealed. Its technological breakthroughs in six-dimensional force sensors and the expansion of application scenarios are accelerating the progress of humanoid robot technology.

According to relevant research, by 2027, the Chinese market for six-dimensional force/torque sensors is expected to exceed 1.5 billion RMB, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 45%.

Sales are expected to surge to more than 84,000 units, with a CAGR exceeding 60%. The robot industry’s demand is expected to account for a significant share, with sales forecasted to surpass 42,000 units.

This trend indicates that as the humanoid robot industry explodes, the sensor industry will experience strong growth momentum.

 

Xiaomi: From Core Components to a Full Industry Chain Layout

Xiaomi Group’s strategy in the robotics industry chain goes beyond just the product itself; it covers the entire spectrum from core technology development to component manufacturing, and ultimately to application scenarios.

With the continuous development of smart hardware and IoT technology, Xiaomi has gradually integrated humanoid robots as an important part of its smart hardware ecosystem.

In the upstream component field, Xiaomi has used a diversified investment strategy to lay out several sensor and core component companies. For example, Xiaomi’s investment fund has acquired a stake in Kunwei Technology, focusing on the development of six-dimensional force sensors. Additionally, Xiaomi has invested in lidar companies like Hesai Technology, whose lidar products are already applied in Xiaomi’s smart cars, assisting in innovations in smart driving.

The partnership in the chip field is also a key part of Xiaomi’s robot industry strategy. Xiaomi has partnered with Allwinner Technology to provide chip support for its bionic quadruped robot “Iron Egg,” further enhancing Xiaomi’s technological depth and innovation in robotics.

 

Moreover, Xiaomi has also invested in critical robotic components such as reducers and motors through its smart manufacturing fund. For example, Xiaomi’s fund has invested in Calbo, a plastic welding company based in Suzhou, which provides essential components for robot body manufacturing.

 

Comprehensive Layout in Body Manufacturing and Smart Applications

In the field of robot body manufacturing, Xiaomi is not only a humanoid robot manufacturer but also involved in the design, manufacturing, and testing of robots. This indicates that Xiaomi has shifted from being a pure technology investor to an active participant across the full industry chain.

To further strengthen this layout, Xiaomi has invested in Xiaoyu Manufacturing, a company focused on large-scale intelligent welding robots, which provides Xiaomi with efficient, smart production solutions.

 

Hillhouse Capital's Layout in Embodied Intelligence

Hillhouse Capital’s layout in the embodied intelligence track is also noteworthy. As a leading venture capital firm, Hillhouse Capital has already invested in several robotics-related companies, covering the entire industry chain from core technology development to downstream applications.

 

Hillhouse Capital’s investments in the perception layer include companies like Qianjue Robotics, while in the control layer, it has invested in Fuxing Electromechanical, a leading domestic manufacturer of servo motors and drives used in industrial and collaborative robots.

Hillhouse has also invested in companies like Sensing Robotics, Zhiyuan Robotics, and Xinghai Map in the body manufacturing layer, forming a complete ecosystem that spans perception, control, and body manufacturing.

 

Sunny Optical Industry Fund: Cross-Industry Integration of Optoelectronic Technology and Robotics

The Sunny Optical Industry Fund, another key player, was established in 2017 and leverages the technical advantages of Sunny Optical Technology Group. It focuses on investing in early-stage technology companies with forward-looking technologies and productization capabilities.

 The fund’s investment strategy not only focuses on optoelectronic technologies but has also gradually expanded into the robotics industry, with a particular focus on core robot technologies and high-end sensor markets.

The participation of the Sunny Optical Industry Fund indicates that the robotics industry will see more cross-industry integration of technology and capital, further promoting innovation and industry upgrades.