The recently concluded World Robot Conference (WRC) served as a comprehensive showcase, bringing together nearly all prominent robotics manufacturers and component suppliers from across the globe. A key highlight was the rapid integration of lidar technology, now considered a standard sensor for embodied intelligence systems, which is attracting massive investments from top industry players. This shift underscores the growing convergence of advanced sensing and autonomous robotics, particularly in applications like robotic lawn mowers, where demand is experiencing explosive growth.
According to insights from Hesai Technology, the company anticipates that its lidar shipments for the robotics sector will surpass 200,000 units in 2025, exceeding the cumulative historical deliveries for robotic lidar and marking a phase of rapid expansion. This projection was shared by Hesai representatives, highlighting the transformative impact of embodied intelligence on the industry. Similarly, other leading lidar firms have reported a substantial increase in orders, especially from the robotic lawn mower segment, with expectations for rapid scaling throughout the year.
- Manufacturers Intensify Focus on the Lawn Mowing Segment
The rise of boundary-free robotic lawn mowers has catalyzed a wave of entries into the residential lawn care market, with numerous domestic companies joining the fray. As per incomplete statistics from GGII Mobile Robot, over the past five years, 32 enterprises in China have ventured into the robotic lawn mower sector. These include firms with backgrounds in garden equipment, robotics companies expanding their portfolios, and startups making significant bets on this emerging field.
Tianfeng Securities estimates that global sales of robotic lawn mowers are approaching 1.8 million units, with a penetration rate still below 10%, indicating the industry is in its early stages. Robotic lawn mowers represent a fusion of hardware and software; hardware must be optimized for challenges such as the coarse grass and fast growth rates in regions like North America, which demand high power, efficiency, and durability. Concurrently, sophisticated software can help reduce certain hardware costs, making the integration of both elements critical. For instance, Ninebot Inc. has incorporated encoders on the sides of its mowers to achieve high torque at low speeds for hub motors, with these encoders also aiding in overall positioning calculations.
The pursuit of cost-effective hardware performance has driven an increase in lidar adoption. Hesai’s JT series lidar is widely deployed in service robots, mobile robots, delivery robots, cleaning robots, and robotic lawn mowers, with the latter category seeing particularly high shipment volumes. In a significant move, Hesai and Keting Technology formalized a strategic cooperation agreement on April 21, under which Hesai will supply 300,000 units of its JT series lidar to power Dreametech’s robotic lawn mowers over the next year. Since its launch less than five months ago, the JT series has already achieved mass production and delivery of 100,000 units, predominantly for robotic lawn mowers. Price-wise, robotic mowers typically fall within the ten-thousand-yuan range, while the integrated lidar systems are priced at the thousand-yuan level, making them accessible for mass adoption.
Furthermore, First Shanghai Securities noted that RoboSense has completed a full-stack solution encompassing hardware, chips, and AI technology. Its collaborations with OEMs have entered a phase of rapid growth, enhancing positioning accuracy and environmental adaptability in lidar-equipped robotic lawn mowers. RoboSense is projected to achieve shipments of 100,000 units in 2025, reinforcing the robust demand in this embodied intelligence application.
- Embodied Intelligence Demand Experiences Widespread Boom
At the World Robot Conference, Hesai Technology showcased two core product solutions tailored for robotics: the mini-type super-hemispherical 3D JT series lidar and the new generation automotive-grade solid-state FTX lidar. Prior to WRC, Hesai announced partnerships in the embodied intelligence sphere with companies like Veta Dynamics and Xingdong Jiyuan, emphasizing the expanding scope of lidar in diverse robotic forms.
RoboSense, on the other hand, highlighted its new robot vision category, Active Camera, with the second product in this platform, AC2, making its debut and scheduled for official release in the second half of this year. The exhibition also featured collaborations with over 10 global robotics partners, including the National and Local Joint Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, Yuejiang Technology, Tiger Robotics, Lingbao CASBOT, Hubei Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, Yushu Technology, Pudu Technology, Yuanluo Technology, and Changxing Dynamics, demonstrating the pervasive integration of lidar in embodied intelligence systems.
Industry experts affirm that lidar is indispensable for embodied intelligence applications. Hesai representatives emphasized that lidar is the optimal sensor for robot mobility, offering extensive perception ranges, broad coverage, compact size, ease of installation, and strong reliability. When comparing demands in泛机器人场景 (general robotics scenarios) with automotive contexts, several distinctions emerge: embodied intelligence systems require 360-degree perception for autonomous path planning, with stringent needs for dead-angle-free sensing; humanoid robots, for example, currently operate at slower speeds, leading to product definitions with detection distances of 30 to 50 meters; and the robotics industry, while cost-sensitive, prioritizes scenario experience over pure economics.
Soochow Securities research reports suggest that robotics manufacturers worldwide are progressively introducing humanoid robot products and clarifying mass-production timelines. Companies such as Zhiyuan, GAC, and Yushu have all unveiled or announced plans for humanoid robots to enter mass production by the end of 2024, with most targeting commercialization between 2025 and 2026. This trend solidifies 2025 as the anticipated commercial元年 (first year) for humanoid robots, further fueling the embodied intelligence revolution.
Liu Xingwei, Vice President of Robot Perception Business at Hesai Technology, previously indicated that various forms of embodied robots will increasingly permeate households. In the mobile robotics domain, the robotic lawn mower market alone could see applications in the millions of units. Considering future developments in other service-oriented embodied robot markets, the overall scale has the potential to surpass that of the automotive sector, underscoring the vast opportunities in embodied intelligence.
- Technological Advancements and Market Projections in Embodied Intelligence
The integration of lidar into embodied intelligence systems is not just a trend but a fundamental shift in how robots perceive and interact with their environments. Embodied intelligence, which refers to AI systems that have a physical form and can act in the real world, relies heavily on sensors like lidar for navigation, obstacle avoidance, and context awareness. The JT series from Hesai, for instance, is designed specifically for these embodied robot applications, providing high-resolution 3D data that enables precise movements in dynamic settings such as residential lawns or indoor spaces.
Market analyses indicate that the global embodied intelligence sector is poised for exponential growth, driven by advancements in AI, machine learning, and sensor technologies. In particular, embodied robots—whether in the form of lawn mowers, humanoids, or service bots—are becoming more affordable and capable, thanks to innovations like the solid-state FTX lidar, which offers durability and performance suited for mass production. The collaboration between lidar providers and robotics firms is accelerating this adoption, as seen in Hesai’s deals and RoboSense’s expanding partner network.
Looking ahead, industry stakeholders predict that embodied intelligence will redefine automation across sectors like agriculture, logistics, and home services. For example, beyond lawn mowing, embodied robots could handle tasks like warehouse management or elderly care, all requiring robust perception systems. The emphasis on 360-degree sensing in these applications ensures that embodied robots can operate safely and efficiently in unstructured environments, a key factor in their commercial success.
In summary, the surge in robotic lawn mower demand is just one facet of the broader embodied intelligence boom. With lidar shipments set to multiply and new products continually emerging, the intersection of sensing technology and robotics is creating a fertile ground for innovation. As companies like Hesai and RoboSense push the boundaries, the era of ubiquitous embodied robots appears increasingly imminent, promising to transform daily life and industrial operations alike.
In conclusion, the rapid expansion of lidar applications in embodied intelligence, particularly within the robotic lawn mower market, highlights a pivotal moment in robotics evolution. The data from Hesai and RoboSense, coupled with industry forecasts, paint a picture of a sector on the cusp of mainstream adoption. As embodied robots become more sophisticated and accessible, their impact will extend far beyond lawn care, heralding a new age of intelligent automation driven by embodied intelligence principles. The ongoing collaborations and technological breakthroughs ensure that this field will remain a hotbed of activity, with lidar at its core enabling safer, more efficient, and autonomous embodied robot systems worldwide.