Why Humanoid Robot Makers Are Starting Small for the Home

On August 23, 2026, Qiyuan Robot, a subsidiary of Shangwei New Materials, opened public preorders for its Q1 and T1 consumer humanoid robots. Buyers can order through the company’s official mini-program, major authorized e-commerce platforms and offline stores. The company described the rollout as the formal arrival of a small humanoid with full-body force control in the mass consumer market, a category previously limited mostly to prototypes and industrial trials.

At a September 20 launch event titled “Me and My Personal Robot,” Qiyuan officially released both models. The Q1 is an 88-centimeter humanoid with full-body force control that can fold into a backpack, making it easier to carry and store. The T1 is presented as the world’s first transformable personal robot, able to switch autonomously between a wheeled-legged humanoid form and a quadruped form. Both are priced from 19,999 yuan.

The decision to start small reflects a practical calculation for home robots. Smaller platforms are easier to make safe around people, simpler to move between rooms and store, and cheaper to build at consumer price points. Lower weight also reduces collision risks, while smaller actuators and structures can help control cost. Qiyuan’s Q1 and T1 therefore target domestic spaces rather than industrial tasks, where larger humanoids typically compete.

Qiyuan opened its first global offline store on Shanghai’s Middle Huaihai Road on September 28. The official mini-program lists initial authorized experience stores across seven Chinese cities. For the company, physical retail adds demonstration and service touchpoints as consumer humanoids move from preorder pages toward everyday household use.