Xpeng's iron humanoid robot enhances predictive capabilities with real-time reasoning

On October 22, 2026, Xpeng announced that its second-generation VLA model has been upgraded to better understand time, and this capability has now been integrated into its IRON humanoid robot. The IRON robot can re-evaluate its actions every 0.2 seconds and predict up to six seconds of future motion, enabling real-time interaction with humans. It can respond to sudden changes in gestures, such as a sudden punch or a shift in hand position, by adjusting its response accordingly. Xpeng's IRON robot features a human-like 'skeleton-muscle-skin' structure, with 22 degrees of freedom in its hands and a 3D curved display on its head. It is equipped with three Turing AI chips and a combination of VLT, VLA, and VLM models for advanced intelligence. Xpeng plans to start mass production of the IRON robot by the end of 2026 and begin deliveries in early 2027, targeting commercial settings first.