When we thought that technology could not surprise us, two Chinese car manufacturing companies arrive and change the landscape again. This is the case of OMODO and JAECOO, which have announced their intention to incorporate humanoid robots into their car dealership subsidiaries in Europe. Do you imagine that you are going to buy a car and a robot takes care of you? So said Sophie Lu, the company’s human resources director at the Spanish meeting IA without borders, Talento sin límites, where she explained that they are working on their AiMOGA system, through which robots can interact in more than 10 languages in Europe.
AiMOGA will have a feminine physique, equipped with a vision system using 3D LiDAR sensors and cameras so that you can see what surrounds you, microphones and ultrasonic radars. The base of AiMOGA will not only interact with customers, but also be used in the manufacture of their cars and ADAS (Driving Aids), among other parts of the production process, according to Lu. The intention of this merger of companies from China is to create humanoid robots capable of serving the public in Europe, something that is not a novelty, since they have managed to implement it on other continents.
OMODO and JAECOO
OMODA and JAECOO are Chinese brands belonging to the Chery group, considered one of the largest manufacturers in the Asian giant. Both focus on delivering mobility solutions that incorporate the latest advances in technology as well as high-end design. Despite walking hand in hand, each focus on different tasks:
- OMODA manufactures its designs oriented to the public looking for technology and aesthetics.
- JAECOO specializes in SUVs, oriented to a more premium public that bets on sophistication.
Humanoid robots
In 2023, both companies landed in Europe, specifically in Spain. Despite having ambitious plans with which it intends to expand to 19 European markets, at the moment it only operates in the Iberian Peninsula. In the past Spanish meeting “IA without borders, Talent without limits”, where several companies from the technology and artificial intelligence sector met, was attended by the Human Resources Director of the Chinese company, Sophie Lu.
It was she who declared that OMODA and JAECOO are developing AiMOGA, a system which will be able to speak 10 languages in Europe. What is the purpose of AiMOGA? Among other functions that will be explained throughout the article, this system is intended to be incorporated into humanoid robots, which are able to interact with humans and meet their needs in the brand’s dealerships. This is nothing new, since AiMOGA has already been launched on other continents as a personal customer assistant.
AiMOGA
The company has revealed some of the features that AiMOGA will present; it will have a female form with 1.67 m height. Will be able to perform 41 movements, of which 12 are with the hand, with the ability to hold objects. Of course, they do not stop at the physical aspect, but have chosen to implement a vision system with 3D LiDAR sensors and equip it with cameras to see what surrounds it. It will also have an ultrasonic radar and microphones that will allow the language with humans.
The company declares that it refuses to let the use of the AiMOGA system remain only in autonomous or intelligent driving, but they want to take it to another level with the implementation of language models. According to Li, “this artificial intelligence is directly employed “in the manufacture of our cars, in the development tests, in the simulations, in the ADAS (driving aids) and in creating intelligent cabins”.
What is the purpose of humanoid robots and AiMOGA?
The aim of this new measure is for AiMOGA to be able to serve customers and meet their needs in the dealerships. It is intended that language barriers are not a problem, and that through these robots, communication is more fluid. Makes me wonder if it would not be better to hire people who know languages, but I guess that would not be new in the technological field.
