Far mountain launches china's first wheel-legged guide robot for the visually impaired

On September 4, 2026, Far Mountain, a technology brand under the Hangzhou Zhiyuan Research Institute of China Ordnance Industry Group, unveiled China's first wheel-legged guide robot, 'Xiao Yuan,' designed for visually impaired individuals. The robot combines wheels and legs to navigate flat surfaces and stairs. It features advanced obstacle avoidance, route guidance, voice interaction, and remote assistance. The robot can detect low-hanging obstacles like branches and scaffolding, which traditional guide tools miss, and adjust its path accordingly. It achieves an obstacle avoidance success rate of at least 99% indoors and 96% outdoors. 'Xiao Yuan' is shaped like a guide dog to improve public acceptance and has passed reliability and stability tests, with an outdoor positioning error of no more than 30cm. The company has partnered with multiple disability federations, with Hangzhou's West Lake District leading in opening public spaces for testing in metro stations and shopping malls. Far Mountain has also announced collaborations with local disability federations to expand the robot's deployment. The robot's design emphasizes quiet operation and smooth movement to avoid interfering with the user's ability to locate objects by sound. It can autonomously identify and avoid pedestrians, vehicles, and obstacles, reducing the risk of collisions in public spaces. The company aims to integrate 'Xiao Yuan' into various urban environments, enhancing accessibility for the visually impaired.