DJI-alum startup's camera robot Beni launches in China at ¥4,999
量子位 · wechat · 2026-11-15
QbitAI reviews the Beni wheeled-legged camera robot from Miaodong Tech, now on sale in China at ¥4,999 after breaking robot crowdfunding records overseas.
Hands-on highlights:
- 20cm square, 1.75kg; tops 28.8 km/h, jumps stairs, does backflips, self-rights after falls
- Highly tolerant balance algorithm; random easter-egg emotional behaviors
- Core feature: auto-tracking 4K stabilized video — "a DJI Pocket 3 with legs" — plus MondoCut AI editing for one-tap highlight reels
- Wristband controller for screen-free operation; AR games like coin-hunting and tug-of-war
- Vision runs on-device by default, 32GB storage + microSD, works offline
- Weaknesses: bumps into glass doors, may lose the subject in crowds, 1.5h battery (an ¥800 Explorer bundle adds two packs)
Team: founded Jan 2025 in Shenzhen; CEO Gao Jianrong led DJI RoboMaster; CTO Yang Shuo studied under Li Zehua, ex-DJI technical director and later core controls engineer on Tesla Optimus.
The piece frames Beni as a consumer embodied-AI template: lead with cuteness and emotional value so users forgive the robot's clumsiness.
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