China's Hesai launches spatial camera to boost AI — powered robotics adoption

SHANGHAI, Oct 14 (Reuters) — Hesai Group, a leading Chinese autonomous driving technology firm, on Wednesday unveiled a three-dimensional mapping camera, targeting demand for physical spatial data needed to train the AI systems powering humanoid robots. The company introduced "Kosmo," a device resembling a wine bottle, that combines lidar sensors and cameras to help developers collect real-world spatial data more efficiently. There is a significant gap in high-quality spatial data needed to train AI-powered robots to understand and interact with the real world and perform complex tasks beyond waving arms or dancing, Hesai co-founder and CEO David Li said at a launch event at the company's Shanghai factory. Li said robots remain limited in their ability to solve real productivity challenges. Most robots are still confined to low-impact functions like greeting guests, waving or dancing, he said. "What we aim to offer is essentially a platform for the underlying technologies required by the robotics industry, positioning Hesai as a tier 1 supplier comparable to Bosch in the automotive sector, or perhaps even beyond," Li said. He declined to provide revenue projections for Kosmo but sa