- The humanoid robot has replaced human workers in the testing processes before battery packs roll off the line, with its operation cycle matching that of skilled workers.
- Facing continuous production tasks for multiple battery models, its daily workload has tripled compared to manual labor.
CATL (HKG: 3750, SHE: 300750) has become the world's first battery manufacturer to deploy humanoid robots at scale in battery pack production, replacing human labor in several critical processes.
The company's humanoid robot-enabled battery pack production line recently commenced operations at its Luoyang, Henan manufacturing base, marking the world's first large-scale deployment of humanoid robots in battery pack production, CATL announced yesterday.
Named "Xiaomo" (or Little Mo), the humanoid robot can now precisely execute complex tasks like battery connector insertion, marking a milestone breakthrough in applying embodied intelligence to manufacturing, the company said.
Xiaomo replaces human operators in the EOL (End of Line) and DCR (Direct Current Internal Resistance) processes during battery pack production -- the final functional tests before the packs leave the line.
These stages traditionally relied on manual labor, where workers had to precisely connect test plugs carrying hundreds of volts of high voltage to designated positions on the battery pack. This process carried risks of high-voltage arcing and presented challenges including inconsistent efficiency and quality.
Xiaomo has transformed this situation, as it incorporates an end-to-end Vision-Language-Action (VLA) model, granting it robust environmental perception and task execution capabilities, CATL said.
The humanoid robot autonomously handles uncertainties like material position deviations and connection point variations, dynamically adjusting its operational posture in real time.
When inserting or removing flexible wiring harnesses, it dynamically modulates force to ensure reliable connections without damaging components.
In actual operation, Xiaomo maintains a connection success rate exceeding 99 percent, with cycle times matching those of skilled workers, according to CATL.
The humanoid robot has become an indispensable member on the production line, autonomously detecting wiring harness connection status and reporting anomalies in real time, effectively reducing defect rates.
It can also proactively switch to inspection mode during operational breaks.
Facing continuous production tasks for multiple battery models, its daily workload has tripled compared to manual labor while demonstrating exceptional consistency and stability, CATL said.
Xiaomo was developed by Spirit AI, a Hangzhou-based company founded in 2024 and backed by CATL.
CATL will use Xiaomo's deployment as a starting point to enhance automation and intelligence across its battery pack production lines, the company said.
CATL, the world's largest power battery producer, achieved 355.2 GWh of EV battery installations from January to October, a 36.6 percent increase from the 260 GWh installed during the same period last year, according to data from South Korean market research firm SNE Research.
It maintained its position as the global leader with a 38.1 percent market share during this period, remaining the only battery supplier worldwide with a market share exceeding 30 percent.
CATL's November battery installations in China reached 40.87 GWh, maintaining its top position with a 43.71 percent market share.
