晚点Auto·2026-01-19 07:12Core Viewpoint - The founders of Hesai Technology have established a new robotics company, Sharpa, which aims to develop general-purpose robots and core components, indicating a significant shift in focus from automotive lidar technology to robotics, which they believe has a much larger market potential [2][3][5]. Company Overview - Sharpa was founded by Hesai's co-founders, who will not hold operational roles but will guide the strategic direction. The company operates independently and has over 100 employees, primarily recruited externally [3][5]. - The first product, SharpaWave, is set to launch in October 2025 and features 22 degrees of freedom, allowing it to perform tasks like playing table tennis and origami, with a price tag of several tens of thousands of dollars [6][7]. Market Potential - The general robotics market is projected to have a trillion-dollar potential, with the founders aiming to create a world-class AI company. They believe that the opportunities in robotics are ten times greater than those in the electric vehicle sector, but the challenges are also significantly higher [5][8]. - The founders anticipate that the robotics lidar market could surpass the automotive lidar market, and they plan to develop additional components needed for robotics beyond just lidar [6]. Industry Landscape - There are over 100 startups in China focused on humanoid robots, with at least 300 entrepreneurs exploring various key components and applications in robotics [7]. - The technology roadmap for general-purpose robots is still evolving, with many companies exploring commercial applications [7]. Future Outlook - The first generation of Sharpa's products will primarily target research and experimental applications, with plans to enter service-oriented scenarios and eventually the household market, aiming for a cost below $5,000 for consumer models [7]. - The founders believe that the current moment in the robotics industry lacks a transformative breakthrough akin to the emergence of ChatGPT in the tech sector [8].