China launches robot guide dog for visually impaired

Zhiyuan Research Institute debuts Xiaoyuan, a wheeled and legged robot guide dog for visually impaired people

Zhiyuan Research Institute (affiliated with China North Industries Group) debuted Xiaoyuan, a robot guide dog for visually impaired people, at China’s Care and Rehabilitation Expo on September 4, 2026. The device combines wheels for smooth movement on flat surfaces with four legs for stair climbing, providing quiet navigation for hearing-dependent users. Xiaoyuan detects overhead obstacles like low-hanging branches and achieves centimeter-level outdoor positioning accuracy (error margin under 30 centimeters). It also connects to disability federation systems and remote assistance portals. Performance metrics are claimed by the institute but lack independent verification. This addresses mobility needs for visually impaired individuals without requiring human guide dogs, which may be constrained by cost or availability in certain contexts. The source provides no data on current deployment scale or user adoption rates.

Source: SCMP Tech