CATL is putting the first heavy-load humanoid robot powered by its own batteries to work on the production line, marking a new step in factory automation for the world’s largest power battery maker.
The company has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Chinese humanoid robot maker Galbot, under which the two sides will focus on upgrading smart production lines and drive the global expansion and scaled deployment of embodied-intelligence robots, according to a statement on Wednesday.
The focus of the cooperation is the Galbot S1, a heavy-load humanoid robot developed by Galbot. CATL said it is the world’s first embodied-intelligence robot in regular operation that is powered by the company’s batteries.
The Galbot S1 features a 50-kilogram dual-arm payload capacity, along with vision-only centimeter-level positioning and 360-degree omnidirectional obstacle avoidance. It specializes in high-intensity tasks on the production line, such as material handling and picking.
The robot has formally entered CATL’s smart production line. It carries out long-running autonomous work in module and battery pack production, replacing manual labor in tasks such as material handling and picking.
On the cell side, CATL uses a cathode with particle-grading technology, a low-lithium-consumption anode, and a bionic self-healing electrolyte. The company said the cell failure rate has reached the parts-per-billion (PPB) level.
This configuration can support the robot’s 8-hour battery life. CATL said it ensures long service life and high safety in production-line operations.
The two sides will also incorporate the robot into CATL’s established after-sales system. The company’s Ning Service, which previously covered the inspection, maintenance, and recycling of power batteries, will now extend to embodied-intelligence robots.
CATL said the two sides plan to use this to establish the world’s first aftermarket service standard for embodied intelligence.
The cooperation builds on CATL’s earlier deployment. The company had previously put the world’s first humanoid-robot-enabled battery pack production line into operation at its production base in Luoyang, Henan province.
The robot on that line, named Xiaomo, was developed by Spirit AI. It replaces manual labor in the functional testing process before battery packs leave the line, with a work pace that has reached the level of a skilled worker.
Galbot is the only embodied-intelligence company CATL has invested in to date. The company announced in March that it had completed a new round of financing of 2.5 billion yuan ($368 million).
After this round, Galbot’s cumulative financing ranks first in China’s embodied-intelligence sector.
Founded in 2023, Galbot was established by Wang He, a researcher at Peking University. The company is dedicated to developing embodied foundation models that enable robots to autonomously perceive, decide, and act in the real physical world.
CATL is the world’s largest power battery maker. According to SNE Research, the company’s EV battery installations reached 141.4 GWh in the first four months, up 19.8% year-on-year, ranking first in the world with a 40.1% share.
This article was first published by Phate Zhang on CnEVPost, a website focusing on new energy vehicle news from China.
