What the Qiji X1 Actually Is

DaxAI Robotics unveiled its Qiji lineup — officially the Qiji "All-Terrain Intelligent Mount" — at the World Robot Conference in Beijing on August 19, 2026, and crowds watched riders climb into the saddle and steer it across a track of gravel, timber, and other obstacles. It looks like a cross between a robotic dog and a motorcycle: a dark grey, motorcycle-sized machine that strides on four mechanical legs, with a rider seated on top gripping handlebars.

DaxAI is pitching it as more than a novelty. The company frames the Qiji as suited to off-road transport, heavy-load carrying, and emergency rescue work in places wheeled vehicles can't reach — mountain trails, forests, and open fields.

Specifications

Figures reflect the most widely corroborated specs across launch-day coverage; some outlets report differing weight, speed, and price figures, so treat exact numbers as approximate ahead of an official spec sheet from DaxAI.

Meet the Lineup: X1 vs. XS

DaxAI launched two variants side by side. The Qiji X1 is the pure-legged model described above, while the Qiji XS is a wheel-legged version that can switch between walking on its legs and rolling on wheels, aimed at faster travel on smoother terrain. The XS carries the same 300 kg dynamic load rating but starts higher, at roughly RMB 359,000 (~$53,000).

• Qiji X1 — pure quadruped, legs only, built for rough, uneven terrain
• Qiji XS — wheel-legged hybrid, weighs about 320 kg, switches between walking and rolling, quoted at up to 40 km/h in wheeled mode
• Both models share DaxAI's electric drive and joint-actuator hardware, adapted from motorcycle and quadruped-robot components

Not the First to Try — But the First to Ship

DaxAI isn't the only company chasing the rideable-robot idea. Kawasaki Heavy Industries has its Corleo concept, a hydrogen-powered, two-seat robotic mount unveiled as a concept vehicle, with Kawasaki targeting a commercial launch only by 2035. The Qiji X1, by contrast, is already taking orders and moving toward production this year — putting DaxAI years ahead of that timeline, even if the Qiji's price and rough-terrain focus target a narrower buyer than a mass-market vehicle.

The Qiji X1 turns "rideable robot horse" from a trade-show gimmick into a product with a price tag and an order page. It won't outrun an actual horse, let alone a motorcycle, but as a signal of how fast quadruped robotics is moving from warehouses and factory floors into things a person can climb onto and ride, it's hard to top.