One signal

Lidar maker Hesai has launched Kosmo, a handheld 3D spatial camera intended to turn real-world places into detailed, editable models. The company says it is designed to digitise complex environments such as campuses and factories for the emerging physical-AI industry.

That makes this more than another camera announcement: Hesai is pitching it as a way to give robots a richer picture of the places they may need to work. The South China Morning Post reports that the company has other physical-AI products in the pipeline, too. The useful idea is clear; the proof will come from how well those models help robots navigate and act. For now, Hesai has announced a tool and an ambition, not demonstrated what robots can do with it.

Discuss: For robots working in factories or campuses, would detailed 3D models be more valuable than live camera feeds, or do they risk becoming an expensive extra layer?

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