Shenzhen robotics start-up Daimon secures China Mobile backing for AI push
Daimon Robotics, co-founded by HKUST professor Wang Yu, received a fresh injection of funds from the mobile operator’s Lianchang Fund
A Shenzhen-based humanoid robotics start-up, known for the dexterity of its robots, has received fresh funding from a fund under China Mobile, demonstrating how Chinese state and private sector money is pouring into robotics.
Daimon Robotics Technology, co-founded by Wang Yu, dean of the robotics institute at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), and his student Duan Jianghua, said in a statement on Wednesday that Lianchang Fund, backed by China’s largest mobile operator, had invested in the company.
While the company did not disclose the investment, Daimon said it was the fourth round of funding so far. Daimon, one of the most sought-after start-ups in mainland China’s robotics industry, has raised “hundreds of millions of yuan” from Chinese venture capital investors such as Lenovo Capital, Jinding Capital and Incubator Group, the investment arm of China Merchants Group.
The company’s robots are equipped with advanced sensing technology from the HKUST lab that enables them to accurately process physical attributes of objects such as hardness, texture and contact sensation.
In a recent demonstration video released by the company, its humanoid robot, equipped with tactile sensors, handles delicate tasks. These include slicing a block of tofu and releasing flower petals from its “hand” in response to a human breath.