Hangjiashuo Robotics
Recently, at the online briefing for Midea Group's 2026 semi-annual report, the Chairman and President stated that the company will firmly advance its layout in secondary core businesses such as robotics and new energy in the second half of the year.
In the first half of 2026, Midea achieved a revenue of CNY 261.052 billion, a year-on-year increase of 3.46%; net profit attributable to the parent company reached CNY 26.446 billion, a slight year-on-year increase of 1.66%; and net profit attributable to the parent company after deducting non-recurring gains and losses was CNY 19.595 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 25.31%. Among these, the robotics and automation business achieved a revenue of CNY 16.62 billion, a year-on-year increase of 10.27%.
A set of field test data disclosed in this semi-annual report provides a pragmatic sample for the humanoid robot track: Midea's six-arm super-humanoid robot MIROU has been on duty in the high-end washing machine park for over two months, completing more than 100,000 screw fastening tasks in total.
This marks that the industrial flagship models of Midea's humanoid matrix have stepped out of the demonstration stage and entered the phase of continuous production line field operations. Relying on its own factories as a natural testing ground, Midea has built a complete product matrix of the "MIRO + Meila Home and Commercial Series," prioritizing scenario implementation and rejecting the mere gimmick of humanoid appearance.
Midea's humanoid robot layout is rooted in years of accumulated automation technology. In 2014, the Central Research Institute initiated preliminary research on robotics, and the acquisition of KUKA consolidated its automation capabilities, relying on the Lan Cheng Laboratory to tackle core components. In 2024, the Humanoid Robot Innovation Center was established, completing the full-chain in-house R&D of the whole machine, joints, sensors, and embodied foundation models, with core hardware achieving domestic production. The entire product matrix shares a unified underlying technology stack, featuring in-house developed high-torque joint modules, six-axis force/torque sensors, and electronic skin, paired with the "Meiyan" foundation model and the HomeAgent home intelligence platform. This enables the cross-model reuse of software and hardware technologies, compressing R&D costs for multiple products.
The MIRO series, the industrial flagship that first underwent scaled validation in Midea's humanoid matrix, is divided into two main branches: human-like and super-humanoid. The human-like MIRO wheeled-legged dual-arm model has long been deployed in the Jingzhou washing machine factory. Under the dispatch of the factory brain, it undertakes tasks such as component handling, 3D appearance quality inspection, equipment inspection, and flexible assembly. It can stably grasp an 8 kg washing machine outer tub, realizing a business closed-loop of quality inspection, data feedback, and process optimization.
The third-generation super-humanoid robot MIROU is the core of differentiation. Breaking away from the traditional bipedal and dual-arm anthropomorphic framework, it adopts a six-arm + wheeled-legged composite chassis, supporting 360° zero-radius turning. The six robotic arms operate collaboratively with quick switching of end-effectors, adapting to various processes such as screw fastening, sorting, and assembly. Field tests on the production line show that this solution can improve production line changeover efficiency by 30%, breaking through the operational bottleneck of traditional dual-arm robots. The 100,000 fastening tasks disclosed in this semi-annual report confirm the stability of the six-arm super-humanoid robot in repetitive, high-intensity industrial tasks, paving a new path for humanoid robots in heavy manufacturing scenarios.
After the validation in industrial scenarios, the Meila series targets commercial stores and home scenarios. It is currently in the final testing phase and is planned to be deployed in Midea's offline experience stores in 2026, taking on service tasks such as product explanation, beverage preparation, and on-site demonstrations.
Behind the entire matrix is Midea's "Intelligentization of Industrial Robots, Robotization of Home Appliances, and Value Realization of Humanoid Robots" Three Transformations Strategy. Midea utilizes its hundreds of self-owned factories as consistently iterating testing grounds, consistently collecting real working condition data and steadily optimizing embodied intelligence algorithms. For home scenarios, it relies on the advantages of the home appliance ecosystem to connect the collaborative link between robots and whole-home appliances, which is the unique moat for home appliance giants to layout the humanoid track.
In the current humanoid robot industry, prototype demonstrations and stage exhibitions are proliferating, but mass production cases for long-term stable operations remain scarce. Midea's product matrix clearly divides the implementation rhythm: on the industrial end, the MIRO series has already obtained the "entry ticket" to the production line, consistently accumulating real operational data; small-scale pilots in commercial scenarios are steadily advancing; and full-humanoid products for home scenarios remain prudent, focusing mainly on internal validation and iteration.
The humanoid robot industry is still in the early stage of industrialization, and it is still some time away from large-scale home popularization. Midea provides a pragmatic roadmap: the core value of humanoid robots lies not in replicating the human form, but in solving pain points in production and life in real scenarios, using continuous implementation to verify technological value, and steadily opening up space for industrial growth.
This article is compiled based on publicly available online information, for reference only, and does not constitute investment advice.