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Cyberdog

CyberDog is a series of open-source bionic quadruped robots developed by the Chinese multinational technology company , designed primarily as research platforms for developers and as interactive robotic pets capable of mimicking behaviors such as walking, running, and performing acrobatic maneuvers like backflips. Launched in August 2021, the initial CyberDog model features a NVIDIA Jetson Xavier NX processor, 11 high-precision sensors including cameras and RealSense depth modules, and a maximum speed of 3.2 m/s, enabling capabilities like autonomous obstacle avoidance, human recognition, and voice control via apps. The successor, CyberDog 2, unveiled in August 2023, advances these features with a lighter 8.9 kg frame inspired by a Doberman's proportions, 19 sensors for enhanced perception, a 21 chip for reinforcement learning-based actions, and improved density of 37.85 N·m/kg, allowing it to carry up to 1 kg payloads while integrating into daily environments through app, remote, and voice interactions. Both models emphasize open-source accessibility, with releasing system code, design blueprints, and limited units to foster global innovation in -driven .

Development and History

Origins and Development

Xiaomi's series originated from the company's expansion into advanced , with development led by the Xiaomi Lab, a dedicated team of engineers focused on bionic and AI-driven technologies. Established as Xiaomi's first venture into quadruped , the aimed to create an open-source for developers and researchers to innovate in areas like autonomous and human-robot . The initial Cyberdog model drew inspiration from bio-mimetic designs, incorporating elements reminiscent of agile movements to enable high-speed and acrobatic capabilities. Development emphasized affordability and accessibility, positioning the robot as both a research tool and a consumer-oriented , while leveraging Xiaomi's expertise in for integrated smart features. The Lab, comprising hundreds of researchers by the mid-2020s, invested heavily in components such as custom servo motors and processing units, fostering an for global collaboration through released and hardware blueprints. This open-source approach was intended to accelerate advancements in , contrasting with more competitors like ' . Early work integrated hardware for computing power, aligning with Xiaomi's broader "human x car x home" smart strategy.

Key Milestones and Versions

Development of the Cyberdog began in the years leading up to its public unveiling, with internal testing focused on stability, integration, and algorithms for real-time decision-making. The first Cyberdog model was launched on August 10, 2021, marking Xiaomi's entry into the consumer market with an open-source bionic quadruped capable of speeds up to 3.2 m/s and features like backflips and voice control. Limited units were made available to developers to encourage community-driven enhancements. In August 2022, Xiaomi expanded its robotics portfolio with the , demonstrating progress in bipedal locomotion and emotional recognition, which informed subsequent quadruped improvements. The successor, , was unveiled on August 15, 2023, by CEO , featuring a lighter 8.9 kg frame inspired by a Doberman's proportions, 19 sensors, and a 21 AI chip for advanced . Priced at approximately 12,999 RMB (about $1,800 USD as of 2023), it became available for purchase in early 2024, with enhanced torque density and payload capacity up to 1 kg. As of November 2025, the series continues to evolve through open-source contributions, with no major new versions announced beyond Cyberdog 2, though Xiaomi's Lab remains active in related projects.

Features and Technical Overview

Core Components and Functionality

The original CyberDog, launched in August 2021, is powered by an Xavier NX processor featuring 384 CUDA cores, 48 Tensor cores, 6 Carmel ARM v8 CPU cores, and 2 accelerators, enabling AI-driven functionalities such as (SLAM), object tracking, human posture estimation, and face recognition. It incorporates 11 high-precision sensors, including an RealSense D450 depth camera, a 13 MP AI interactive camera, a 2 MP binocular ultra-wide fisheye camera, touch sensors, a GPS module, and ultrasonic sensors, which support capabilities like autonomous obstacle avoidance and environmental perception. The robot's four legs are driven by custom servo motors with a maximum of 32 N·m and rotation speed of 220 rpm, allowing a top speed of 3.2 m/s and acrobatic maneuvers such as backflips. Connectivity options include three USB Type-C ports and one port for developer extensions, such as adding or panoramic cameras. CyberDog 2, unveiled in August 2023, advances this with a lighter 8.9 kg frame (±0.5 kg) inspired by Doberman proportions for improved stability and agility, weighing 40% less than its predecessor while maintaining similar dimensions of 625 × 405 × 400 mm. It features an enhanced NX processor with dual co-processors delivering 21 tera operations per second (TOPS) of computational power, supporting for complex actions trained on over 30,000 simulated dogs. The sensor suite expands to 19 units, including an RealSense D430 depth camera, a 13 MP interaction camera, a 1 MP RGB camera, a 146° field-of-view (FOV) fisheye camera, a YDLIDAR TG30 sensor, four arrays, , ToF (time-of-flight) sensors, and ultrasonic , enabling advanced multi-modal for face , path , voice , and precise environmental . Propulsion comes from 12 self-developed micro-motors with 50% higher precision and a peak density of 37.85 N·m/kg, allowing it to carry payloads up to 1 kg and perform high-precision movements like steps or moonwalks at speeds up to 3 m/s. Both models emphasize modularity and research utility, with designs, system code, and APIs released to facilitate custom integrations and global developer innovation in .

User Interface and Innovations

CyberDog's user interactions are facilitated through a companion app for and , enabling real-time control, mode switching (e.g., follow-me, guard), and monitoring of sensor data, alongside voice commands activated by a wake word for hands-free operation. An optional physical remote provides alternative control for precise maneuvers. Innovations include its bio-inspired algorithms mimicking locomotion for natural movement across varied terrains and an extensible that supports third-party hardware attachments, positioning it as a for experimentation. CyberDog 2 builds on this with a more intuitive app-based (GUI) for visual programming and simulation, integrated () and remote control for low-latency commands, and advanced voice recognition powered by 's algorithm, compatible with specific and smartphones. Key innovations encompass a sensing and for responsive, interactive behaviors—such as dynamic obstacle avoidance and through ear and tail movements—and open-source blueprints that include full structural designs and function APIs, fostering collaborative advancements in and multi-modal as of 2023. These elements enable seamless integration into home or environments, with capabilities like mapping indoor spaces and performing learned tricks via app-guided training.

Release and Reception

Launch Details and Initial Feedback

Cyberdog was marketed by Apple as a free, integrated designed to provide Macintosh users with a native alternative to third-party browsers like , emphasizing its -based modularity for customizable components such as web browsing, email, and FTP access. Positioned as the "killer app" for , it was promoted through demonstrations at events like in November 1995, where it received an enthusiastic response for showcasing component software's potential in applications. Apple further supported promotion via the cyberdog.apple.com website, which offered downloads and developer resources, including the Cyberdog SDK for creating custom parts. The beta version of Cyberdog was released on February 16, , followed by version 1.0 on May 13, , at the . Initial reception highlighted its innovative modularity, with developers praising the architecture for allowing users to mix and match components like a part within documents, representing a forward-looking approach to tools. However, user feedback was mixed, noting the 's stability in core functions but overall slowness and high demands that could hinder performance on typical . Tech publications like MyMac commended its ease-of-use and all-in-one interface as a step toward seamless integration, though some users initially preferred established options like due to adaptation challenges. Version 2.0 launched on , 1997, as a free download from Apple's website and bundled with previews of , aiming to broaden adoption among Macintosh users. Media coverage, including from , spotlighted improvements in web standards support, such as frames, animated GIFs, , and faster HTML rendering, generating initial enthusiasm for its enhanced potential in creating custom front-ends via tools like Cyberdog DocBuilder. Early adoption saw inclusion in developer kits and Mac OS betas, with publications noting its flexible integration as a competitive edge, though it trailed in popularity at launch.

Criticisms and Technical Limitations

Cyberdog's high memory requirements posed a significant barrier to adoption on many Macintosh systems of the era. The software demanded a minimum of MB of RAM for operation, with recommendations reaching up to 32 MB for smoother performance, which was substantial given that typical Macs in 1996 often shipped with 8 MB or less. This led to frequent crashes and instability on older hardware, as users reported the application consuming excessive resources and feeling "clunky and slow" even on compliant systems. The browser's compliance with evolving web standards was notably limited, hindering its ability to render complex pages effectively. Early versions, such as Cyberdog 1.0, lacked support for and did not accommodate plug-ins or equivalents, restricting access to dynamic content prevalent on the at the time. Compared to competitors like and , Cyberdog struggled with emerging features, including incomplete handling and delayed support for frames, cookies, and animated GIFs until version 2.0—by which point the browser component was already outdated and unable to keep pace with rapidly advancing standards. This resulted in poor performance on intricate websites, often requiring users to switch to alternative browsers for full functionality. Cyberdog's reliance on the proprietary storage format, integral to 's compound document architecture, created compatibility challenges beyond the Macintosh ecosystem. While 's structure was publicly documented to allow basic data retrieval in non- environments, saved documents and embedded components remained largely unreadable or unusable without the full suite, limiting interoperability with standard file formats and non-Apple platforms. This lock-in frustrated users attempting to share or archive content, as containers could not be seamlessly opened in conventional applications like word processors or other browsers. Performance bottlenecks were particularly evident in scenarios involving multiple embedded components, a core innovation of Cyberdog's design. Rendering web pages with integrated parts, such as viewers or notebooks within the browser, often resulted in sluggish load times and , exacerbating the software's reputation for being "slow and unstable in some aspects." Users frequently encountered delays during multi-component interactions, with the overall suite criticized as incomplete due to absent features like robust search tools in notebooks and limited options in , further compounding operational frustrations.

Cancellation and Legacy

Reasons for Discontinuation

As of November 2025, Xiaomi has not announced any discontinuation of the Cyberdog project. The series remains an active research and development initiative, with the CyberDog 2 model released in August 2023 continuing to be available for developers and enthusiasts through limited distributions and open-source resources.

Impact and Legacy

The Cyberdog series has established a significant legacy in open-source robotics by providing accessible platforms for global developers. Launched in 2021, the original CyberDog was Xiaomi's first entry into quadruped robotics, emphasizing bio-inspired design and AI capabilities to foster innovation in areas like autonomous navigation and human-robot interaction. By releasing system code, mechanical blueprints, and hardware components, Xiaomi aimed to build a collaborative community, initially distributing 1,000 units to fans, engineers, and researchers to accelerate progress in the field. The project's open-source approach has promoted the development of robotics ecosystems, integrating technologies like processors and RealSense sensors to enable advanced features such as and multi-modal perception. CyberDog 2 further advanced this legacy with enhanced torque density and a lighter frame, supporting payloads up to 1 kg and integration into everyday environments via and voice controls. Its influence extends to educational and experimental applications, inspiring similar initiatives in consumer robotics and contributing to broader advancements in AI-driven mobility, though commercial availability remains limited to promote over mass production.

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