小鹏，“重拾”执念

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the recent unveiling of Xiaopeng's humanoid robot "IRON" during the "Technology Day" event, highlighting its advanced capabilities and the strategic shift in Xiaopeng's robotics direction, moving away from industrial applications to more interactive roles like guiding and shopping assistance [4][18][20]. Group 1: Robot Presentation and Public Reaction - Xiaopeng's "Technology Day" featured the release of the humanoid robot "IRON," which showcased basic walking capabilities, sparking public interest and skepticism regarding its authenticity [4][6]. - The event generated significant media attention, with Xiaopeng leveraging social media to enhance visibility, including a video of the CEO interacting with the robot [6][7]. - The public's reaction included doubts about the robot's capabilities, with some speculating it was merely a human in disguise due to its lifelike appearance [6][9]. Group 2: Technical Aspects of IRON - The "IRON" robot demonstrated advanced gait capabilities, attributed to its complex mechanical structure and generative algorithms that allow for real-time adjustments in movement [10][14]. - The robot's design features significant upgrades in its joints and movement flexibility compared to earlier versions, indicating a substantial leap in hardware complexity [14][22]. - The integration of generative models into the robot's control systems enables it to perform actions based on high-level commands rather than pre-programmed sequences, mimicking human-like decision-making [15][30]. Group 3: Strategic Shift in Robotics - Xiaopeng has shifted its focus from industrial applications to more consumer-oriented roles for the IRON robot, such as guiding and shopping assistance, reflecting a change in market strategy [18][20]. - The initial applications for the robot have been revised from factory automation to more interactive scenarios, indicating ongoing uncertainty in the robotics business [23][24]. - The timeline for mass production of advanced humanoid robots has been set for the end of 2026, but the specifics of the robot's capabilities and applications remain unclear [24][25]. Group 4: AI and Autonomous Driving Developments - Xiaopeng's advancements in AI and autonomous driving technology are crucial for its core automotive business, with the second-generation VLA model being introduced to enhance driving capabilities [29][30]. - The new VLA model aims to improve data processing efficiency and reduce reliance on labeled data, indicating a significant evolution in the company's AI strategy [30][31]. - Despite the progress, there are concerns about the competitive landscape in the autonomous driving sector, with Xiaopeng's performance reportedly declining over the past year [29][34].