Cyberdog

Overview

The Xiaomi Cyberdog is Xiaomi's first robot dog, now discontinued after limited production runs between 2021 and 2023. It was launched as a developer platform rather than a consumer product, featuring Intel RealSense depth cameras, an NVIDIA Jetson Xavier NX compute module, and an open SDK designed for developer access. It carried 3 kg payload, stood 400 mm at the hip, and was priced at around CNY 9,999 (approximately £1,200 at launch exchange rates). Xiaomi replaced it with the Cyberdog 2 in 2023, which featured a lighter body and improved locomotion.

The Cyberdog was significant as a demonstration that a consumer electronics giant could enter the quadruped space, introducing legged robots to a wider audience. Its inclusion of an NVIDIA Jetson Xavier NX as standard compute made it unusual in the sub-$2,000 segment, providing genuine onboard deep learning capability without an external compute module.

Key Specifications

• Degrees of freedom: 12
• Payload: 3 kg
• Standing height: approximately 400 mm
• Weight: approximately 14 kg
• Compute: NVIDIA Jetson Xavier NX (8 GB)
• Cameras: Intel RealSense D430 depth camera, two optical cameras
• Software: open SDK (ROS compatible, community maintained)

The onboard Jetson Xavier NX provided sufficient compute for real-time depth perception, SLAM, and basic object detection without an external compute payload, which was a practical advantage for developers.

Use Cases

The Cyberdog was used primarily in university research and developer prototyping. Its integrated Jetson Xavier NX and Intel RealSense combination made it useful for computer vision and autonomous navigation research without requiring a supplementary compute board. Developers built demonstration applications for object following, gesture control, and basic autonomous navigation. As a discontinued platform, new application development is primarily of archival or educational interest.

Buying Used

Cyberdog units appear on eBay UK and Asian secondhand platforms, with prices ranging from £500 to £1,200. Given its discontinuation and Xiaomi's focus on the Cyberdog 2, software support is minimal and entirely community-maintained. Check that the Jetson Xavier NX module powers on and is recognised by the system correctly, as it is the most expensive component to source as a replacement. Verify that the Intel RealSense camera modules are undamaged, as they are no longer available as first-party spares.

Alternatives to Consider

• Xiaomi Cyberdog 2: The updated model with improved locomotion, lighter weight, and limited ongoing developer support.
• Unitree Go2 EDU: Better-supported SDK with a larger international developer community and payload mounting rail, at $2,800.
• Boston Dynamics Spot: Substantially higher cost but with a mature autonomous inspection platform suitable for production deployment.