Personal robots are transitioning from laboratory-based technical exploration and product validation into real consumer scenarios, entering everyday life as purchasable, deliverable products. On September 20, Qiyuan Robotics, a representative embodied intelligence company in Pudong, officially began selling two personal robots, the Qiyuan Q1 and Qiyuan T1, while simultaneously unveiling its brand, technology, product, and ecosystem strategy. At the launch event, the company disclosed plans to allocate RMB 500 million in research and development spending in 2026, advancing full-stack development across robot hardware, motion control, multimodal interaction, and intelligent agents, and introduced the five-year, RMB 1 billion "Qiyuan Star Ecosystem Plan" to foster a thriving personal robotics ecosystem.

From "building prototypes" to "delivering products," the full-stack technology layout has taken root in Pudong. Earlier this year, Swellson New Material Technology Co., Ltd.'s subsidiary, Qiyuan Innovation (Shanghai) Technology Co., Ltd., officially established operations in Pudong. As a key artificial intelligence project for Shanghai, the subsidiary's strategy is clear: building a personal robotics R&D and industrialization headquarters. The project, situated in the Zhangjiang Robot Valley, is accelerating the development of a product design and innovation center, aiming to launch no fewer than two new consumer-grade robot products annually. Currently, the company has introduced two consumer robots: the Qiyuan Q1, the world's smallest full-body force-controlled humanoid robot, and the Qiyuan T1, the world's first deformable personal robot. This latest sales launch marks the official entry of these two robots into the consumer (C-end) market.

Pricing remains a top concern for robotics enthusiasts. During the event, it was announced that the Qiyuan Q1 is priced at RMB 19,999, with the Qiyuan Q1 Explorer Edition at RMB 26,999. The Qiyuan T1 is also priced at RMB 19,999, while the Qiyuan T1 Pro fetches RMB 29,999, with shipping to begin sequentially from October 1. "Someone has to take the first step," said Tian Hua, CEO of Swellson. He noted that the core interaction gateway of the AI era is shifting from screens to personal robots equipped with perception, interaction, mobility, and execution capabilities. From its inception, Qiyuan Robotics has been steadfast in targeting individuals and households, "starting with 'fun' and gradually moving toward 'usefulness'." Currently, the company has achieved a full-stack technical layout encompassing robot hardware, motion control, and multimodal perception and interaction.

During the press conference, it was revealed that Qiyuan Robotics plans to continue investing heavily in robot AI research and to advance robot agents, further integrating environmental perception, language comprehension, and task execution. This will push robots to evolve from merely "understanding commands" toward "comprehending tasks and autonomously completing them."

Mass production capability has also emerged as a key factor in bringing personal robots to the C-end market. At the event, the company disclosed production updates: it has adopted automotive industry manufacturing rhythms and quality management methods, producing one robot every 2.5 minutes. Assembly data for each product is traceable on a long-term basis, ensuring product delivery through an industrial-grade manufacturing system.

From users to developers, the large-scale rollout of the personal robotics industry also requires a substantial number of interdisciplinary, practice-oriented professionals. At the launch, Qiyuan Robotics announced partnerships with leading universities including Peking University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and Zhejiang University to establish joint laboratories and embodied intelligence industry-education integration platforms, strengthening connections between talent training, technological research, and industrial practice. On the industrial cooperation front, the firm introduced the "Qiyuan Star Ecosystem Plan," committing RMB 1 billion over the next five years to build a collaborative robotics ecosystem and invite more academic institutions, developers, content creators, and industry partners into the personal robotics space.

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