Author | Xiang Xin

Humanoid robot enterprises are currently pressing hard on the accelerator pedal.

Magic Atom, an embodied intelligent robotics firm, has launched a humanoid robot capable of performing backflips, crafting latte art, and folding clothes just 11 months after its inception.

On December 25, Magic Atom announced the completion of a RMB 150 million angel round of funding.

This is Magic Atom's maiden publicly disclosed funding round, led by Zhuichuang Ventures and followed by Yipu Capital. The funds will be utilized for recruiting top talent, advancing technological research and development, accelerating mass production, and fostering commercialization.

Accumulating Technology for Over Three Years

Robots Now Work in Teams in Factories

Magic Atom was founded in January of this year, simultaneously unveiling the versatile humanoid robot MagicBot and the robotic dog MagicDog.

With its electrically-driven humanoid robot capable of backflips, Magic Atom has become the first robotics company globally to break Boston Dynamics' backflip patent with an "electric-driven robot".

Prior to its establishment, the Magic Atom team had already amassed substantial experience in robotics research and development.

There were rumors that Magic Atom was incubated by Dreame Technology. Zhuichuang Ventures, which participated in Magic Atom's funding this time, was also initiated and established by Dreame Technology.

Dreame Technology began focusing on robotics in 2021, successively introducing the bionic quadruped robot Eame One, industrial-grade quadruped robots, and a versatile humanoid robot.

Both Eame One and the versatile humanoid robot were developed by the Magic Atom team.

The early-stage versatile humanoid robot developed by the Magic Atom team was launched in March 2023, with less than a year of R&D. It boasts a total of 44 degrees of freedom, with 6 degrees of freedom per leg, enabling it to stand on one leg. Equipped with a depth camera, it can complete modeling of indoor 3D environments and integrates an AI large language model, enabling high-quality dialogue and communication abilities.

In August 2023, this robot had already learned to make latte art, becoming the world's first robot capable of crafting coffee latte art. The current latte art skills of Magic Atom robots are inherited from this pioneering model.

Latte art created by the 2023 humanoid robot

Latte art crafted by this year's humanoid robot

Thanks to years of technological accumulation, the Magic Atom team has also witnessed rapid technological iteration since its independence. The robot's precise hand manipulation, full-body motion control, and intelligent collaboration abilities are gradually improving.

Just one month after its establishment, the skills of Magic Atom's humanoid robot MagicBot extended beyond latte art to include grilling skewers, roasting marshmallows, folding clothes, watering plants, and performing magic tricks with eggs, demonstrating accurate grasping abilities for different materials.

Its dexterous five-fingered hand incorporates force control and fingertip tactile sensing, enabling precise control through torque sensors. It can effortlessly grasp smooth, thin metal skewers, soft clothing, and fragile eggs.

In terms of motion control, it took Magic Atom ten months to train the robot's walking ability, evolving from walking on flat ground to walking up and down slopes and from walking to running. Essentially, every month, MagicBot's walking ability would improve.

In April of this year, MagicBot could already walk steadily on sloped grass.

Currently, MagicBot can perform full-body anthropomorphic posture autonomous walking at a speed of 0.8m/s with a maximum drag load of 250kg, equivalent to the weight of three adult males.

While MagicBot's hands and feet are evolving, its "brain" is not being left behind.

In November this year, MagicBot served as a receptionist at the China Robot Industry Development Conference, responsible for greeting guests and providing directions.

In December, MagicBot began working in factories, responsible for product inspection, material handling, part grasping, scanning operations, and other tasks.

The MagicBot working in the factory has 42 degrees of freedom throughout its body. Its arms can carry up to 20 kilograms, with a total body load capacity of 40 kilograms and a battery life of 5 hours, allowing it to perceive the surrounding environment in all directions.

The rapid iteration of robots underscores Magic Atom's robust technological R&D capabilities.

Wu Changzheng, head of Magic Atom's business, said, "Magic Atom already possesses a comprehensive technology matrix and continuous research and development capabilities for a robot's 'brain, cerebellum, and limbs.'"

The Magic Atom team currently comprises approximately 100 members. Most of the core R&D team members graduated from prestigious domestic and foreign universities such as Tsinghua University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Zhejiang University, Beihang University, and New York University. They have been engaged in core technology R&D in the fields of robotics and AI algorithms for many years. More than 80% of the team are R&D personnel, with over 50% holding master's degrees or higher.

Magic Atom classifies the application scenarios of humanoid robots into five stages: M0-M4:

M0 represents a laboratory product;

M1 denotes an intern capable of performing simple tasks like pouring water and making coffee;

M2 signifies a skilled worker capable of performing valuable tasks in specific scenarios and initiating commercialization;

M3 represents a household helper capable of entering homes to do chores;

M4 denotes a versatile robot capable of fully integrating into society to complete various tasks.

Magic Atom's next step is to propel robots from the M1 to the M2 stage, enhancing their ability to execute complex tasks with the aim of meeting the requirements of a "skilled worker" as soon as possible.

Achieve Mass Production of Hundreds of Units Next Year

Already Possesses Large-Scale Mass Production Capabilities

Mass production poses one of the most challenging issues for humanoid robot companies.

Due to the high precision requirements of robot components, complex manufacturing processes, and high costs, robot companies need to possess strong hardware design capabilities, supply chain building capabilities, and sufficient financial reserves.

After securing the first round of funding, Magic Atom now essentially has all the prerequisites for mass-producing robots.

Magic Atom possesses independent R&D and production capabilities for upstream core components. Its self-developed joint modules, dexterous hands, reducers, drivers, main controllers, and other core components are highly matched with the body, effectively reducing production costs and providing conditions for large-scale mass production of the entire machine.

Moreover, Magic Atom has established the entire industrial chain for humanoid robots, encompassing independent R&D of core software and hardware, supply chain management and production, and scenario application.

Following the funding completion, Magic Atom anticipates delivering hundreds of mass-produced MagicBot units in 2025, with deliveries reaching the thousands by 2026.

Another prerequisite for mass production is that the robot already has clear commercial application scenarios. Ensuring its usefulness makes large-scale deployment possible and meaningful.

Magic Atom has planned three application scenarios for MagicBot: factory manufacturing, commercial services, and household services.

In industrial scenarios, MagicBot's most prominent feature is its ability to collaborate with multiple robots.

In a video released by Magic Atom in December this year, a team of robots entered the same factory production line, responsible for different processes, from part transportation to product assembly, quality inspection, scanning, and warehousing. Multiple robots could operate seamlessly.

To enhance collaboration efficiency, Magic Atom is building the MagicNet multi-robot collaboration system.

Taking the factory scenario as an example, MagicNet not only supports customized development for specific workstations but also enables robots to possess swarm intelligence. While sharing environmental data and scene maps, it continuously optimizes task planning and scheduling to maximize production efficiency.

Under the scheduling of MagicNet, if a humanoid robot malfunctions, corresponding rules will direct other robots to take over or redistribute tasks.

MagicNet will also support wireless access to the factory's MES system and communication with automation equipment, enabling functional collaboration and data sharing between humanoid robots and the factory's existing machinery and MES system.

Under Magic Atom's planning, in the future, a factory comprising MagicBot will be a unified intelligent agent, and its operations will not require any human intervention.

In commercial service scenarios, Magic Atom has already deployed MagicBot humanoid robots and quadruped robots in some home appliance retail stores for training in commercial services such as greeting guests and shopping guidance.

In household service scenarios, in early December this year, Magic Atom became an ecological partner in China Telecom's "Beautiful Home Robot Ecosystem Construction Plan", jointly exploring the innovative development and application of household service robot technology.

Exploring multiple application scenarios will accelerate the commercialization of robots and help the company gain a firm foothold in the market as soon as possible.

With leading technology, sufficient funding, and steady progress in commercial application, Magic Atom, as a startup, already possesses a relatively complete development foundation.

We anticipate this rising star shining brightly in 2025.