In recent years, with advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics technology, robotic dogs, or quadruped robots, have increasingly made their presence felt in the daily lives of Chinese people, thanks to their appealing appearance and multifunctional capabilities.
A robotic dog and policemen patrol at a park in Jinchuan district, Jinchang city, northwest China's Gansu Province, May 9, 2025. (Photo/Zhang Hongbin)
The application scope of these mechanical canines continues to expand. Their agile mobility and intelligent, interactive features bring great convenience and possibilities to both work and life.
In early summer, on a hiking trail in a mountainous area in Beijing's Shunyi district, a gray robotic dog labeled “fire prevention patrol” can be seen accompanying forest firefighters on their rounds.
This next-generation patrol robotic dog, developed by Unitree Robotics in Hangzhou, officially joined the forest and grassland fire-control command office of Shunyi district on March 13 this year. Weighing about 12.5 kilograms, the robotic dog integrates multiple functions including patrolling, real-time communication, and early warning. Equipped with high-precision sensors, it can detect risks in real time. It also forms part of a three-dimensional governance network linked to the district-level emergency command center, bringing a fresh perspective to forest fire prevention efforts.
Children interact with a robotic dog at the 2025 Huan Meng AI Intelligent Robot Exhibition in Fuzhou city, southeast China's Fujian Province, March 8, 2025. (Photo/Wang Wangwang)
Similar robotic dogs have already been deployed across multiple regions in China.
On April 21, quadruped robots equipped with gimbal-stabilized cameras and AI imaging systems were seen navigating among shipping containers at a container terminal of Ningbo-Zhoushan Port in east China's Zhejiang Province, scanning for structural damage, detecting anomalies, and streaming data in real time to a cloud-based platform. This marked the first time Zhejiang introduced quadruped robots into customs supervision operations. The collaboration between robots and drones has enhanced customs efficiency and facilitated smart port management.
Lion dance performers and a robotic dog stage a performance at a square in Luodai ancient town, Chengdu city, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 4, 2025. (Photo/Zhou Qiaomin)
In February, the fire and rescue detachment of Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, added two robotic dogs to its workforce. Capable of operating continuously for 3.6 hours with an endurance range of more than 15 kilometers, the robotic dogs provide real-time high-definition videos, detect flammable and toxic gases and transmit relevant data, and track heat sources even through dense smoke.
In April, China's first “robotic dog + microfluidics” mobile water quality monitoring platform was unveiled in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province.
At the Mount Tai scenic area in Shandong Province, robotic dogs serve as “intelligent porters” to carry heavy items and remove waste.
Meanwhile, in February, a fourth-generation intelligent robotic dog named Xiaoxi joined a nursing home in Hangzhou as a “caregiver.”
A robotic dog demonstrates medicine delivery at the Fifth China International Consumer Products Expo, April 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)
Unlike the heavy-duty models used in industrial settings, Xiaoxi weighs just 14 kilograms. Despite its small size, it boasts impressive functionality: it can recognize room numbers, deliver medicine, remind elderly residents to take medications, recommend menus, and bring meals. With its 3D depth cameras, Xiaoxi can detect obstacles and human motion, and trigger an alarm when it identifies a fall.
The robotic dog also provides navigation assistance and offers interactive functions such as chatting with seniors, enhancing their satisfaction and bringing them a sense of novelty.
Beyond elder care, robotic dogs have also become intelligent companions for children. Many schools across China have introduced these robots into specialized teaching activities.
Thanks to technological upgrades and falling prices, consumer-grade robotic dogs are becoming increasingly attractive. Features like remote monitoring, voice interaction, and emotional companionship have made them popular household items.
Recently, a robotic dog named Sirius went viral online. Capable of understanding and responding to voice commands, Sirius can perform actions like sitting, jumping, and even dancing with ease.
Photo shows a robotic dog named Sirius developed by Hengbot Innovation Limited based in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee)
Developed by Hengbot Innovation Limited in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Sirius is an intelligent, small-scale quadruped robot weighing just 1 kilogram. Set to launch in June, it targets two main user groups: individual consumers seeking robotic pets for companionship, and tech-savvy developers, including college students, enthusiasts, and engineers, who are offered a platform for secondary development.
Today, robotic dogs have become “new favorites” at tourist attractions, bringing unprecedented experiences to visitors.
During this year's May Day holiday, two robotic dogs named Benben appeared as new forest guides at the Heban Mountain scenic area in Binzhou, Shandong Province.
Robotic dogs are also active at sporting events. At the 2025 Chang'an Automobile Chongqing Marathon, a group of robotic dogs performed lion dances and assisted with supply delivery.
Data shows that since March this year, searches for “AI robots” on Alibaba's e-commerce platform Tmall have surged 21 times year on year. During a shopping event themed on International Women's Day on Tmall, sales skyrocketed by 400 percent year on year, with quadruped robotic dogs representing a particularly popular item.
By 2030, global sales of quadruped robots are expected to exceed 560,000 units, with a market scale potentially surpassing 8 billion yuan ($1.11 billion), according to the Gaogong Industry Research Institute.
(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
