Black Sesame Technologies Brings Automotive-Grade Chips to Robots, Pioneerin...

When a smart vehicle navigates city streets with ease, the “brain” guiding it—high-performance, highly reliable chips—has already been tested under the stringent standards of automotive-grade requirements. Now, that same brain is accelerating toward a new frontier: robotics.

Black Sesame Technologies on Thursday unveiled SesameX, its multidimensional embodied intelligence computing platform designed for full-brain intelligence. The platform supports three major product lines: the SesameX Kalos Computing Platform, aimed at commercial service robots; the SesameX Aura Computing Platform, a general-purpose solution for multi-tasking robots; and the SesameX Liora Platform, an all-in-one system conceived as a “brain” for advanced embodied intelligence.

While on the surface this may appear to be a product line expansion, the move represents a strategic leap. Black Sesame Technologies aims to transfer its technical expertise, supply chain advantages, and ecosystem know-how from the smart vehicle sector—particularly its experience in building full-brain intelligence systems—into robotics, a market many analysts consider a “golden track” and potential “second growth curve” for the company.

To understand the significance of Black Sesame Technologies’ move, it helps to look at the broader robotics landscape. Historically, robots were confined to factory assembly lines, performing repetitive, single-purpose tasks in controlled environments. Today, robots are increasingly leaving these enclosures. They are serving as hotel delivery aides, shopping mall guides, security inspectors, medical assistants, and even family companions.

The scale of this transformation is striking. According to Morgan Stanley analysts, the density of industrial robots in China surged from 97 units per 10,000 people in 2017 to 470 units per 10,000 people in 2023, a 4.8-fold increase. By 2028, the market is projected to reach $108 billion, with a compound annual growth rate of 23%. Globally, Omdia estimates that AI chipset solutions for robots will hit $866 million.

Yet, with this market expansion comes a core technical bottleneck. Robots operating in real-world environments require more than just a “cerebellum” to control limbs—they need a whole-brain intelligent hub capable of sensing, understanding commands, and making decisions. They must process massive data streams from multiple sensors, including cameras and LiDAR, perform rapid on-device AI inference, and execute precise, safe control commands.

This has led to a critical supply gap: while demand for intelligent robots is booming, the “brain” components needed for mass production remain scarce. Many robotics firms excel at algorithms and hardware design but struggle to develop robust computing platforms. They often rely on consumer-grade or industrial chips that fall short in reliability, integration, and functional safety—issues that block the path from prototype to stable, low-cost mass production.

For companies with automotive-grade chip experience, this gap is an opportunity. The robotics and automotive industries share similar supply chains, quality standards, and testing requirements. Dan Jizhang, founder and CEO of Black Sesame Technologies, likened the current robotics industry to “smart cars in 2018”—on the cusp of technological maturity and market explosion, but facing the critical challenge of transitioning from prototype to mass production.

Black Sesame Technologies’ edge lies in two concepts: “automotive-grade” and “whole-brain intelligence.”

Automotive-grade chips endure extreme conditions: they must function reliably from -40°C to 125°C, withstand vibration and humidity, and meet near-zero failure standards for over a decade. This rigor produces “hardcore” reliability—a quality essential for robots expected to operate safely and efficiently in unpredictable environments.

The SesameX platform extends this reliability into robotics through whole-brain intelligence, enabling robots to perceive, fuse, and act on complex data streams in real time. Black Sesame Technologies’ experience in autonomous driving—particularly in vision processing, sensor fusion, and functional safety—directly translates to the decision-making and control demands of robots.

SesameX is not a fresh experiment. It leverages mature automotive-grade IP, functional safety certifications, and an open technology ecosystem. This allows robot manufacturers to bypass the stability hurdles that typically delay commercialization, cutting both time and cost.

Beyond reliability, the platform offers speed and efficiency. By reusing core technologies, Black Sesame Technologies can assemble robotic computing platforms rapidly—Kalos for commercial services, Aura for multi-tasking robots, and Liora for cutting-edge embodied intelligence—shortening R&D cycles and responding to customer needs faster than the market average. Mature supply chain management also ensures cost-effective production, giving robot makers access to high-end computing platforms without the typical overhead.

Historically, robots were single-task machines. A robotic vacuum cleaned floors; a reception robot welcomed guests. While these specialized devices helped bring robotics into the commercial space, they lacked adaptability. Each new robot type required a complete hardware and software redesign, extending development time and cost, and limiting usefulness in unstructured environments.

The SesameX lineup illustrates the shift from dedicated to general-purpose robotics. Kalos focuses on commercial service scenarios, combining vision and motion control for food delivery, reception, inspection, and cleaning. Aura integrates multimodal perception and safety control, targeting legged and humanoid robots for inspection, maintenance, collaborative arms, and teleoperation. Liora represents the pinnacle, enabling autonomous prediction, decision-making, and control for humanoid, bionic, and multi-robot systems.

Early commercialization has already begun. Kalos-based solutions power Starcourse Intelligent’s logistics vehicles. Aura-based solutions are being deployed for quadruped and wheeled robots by Shentingji, Yunshenchu, and Lingyu Intelligent. Partnerships with Joyson Electronics and Hubei Huazhong Electric Power Technology are exploring applications in sectors such as electric power.

This evolution reflects a broader industry principle: specialized devices solve the “zero-to-one” problem, while general-purpose platforms tackle the “one-to-N” challenge, enabling robots to adapt across scenarios. Modular design and technology reuse make general-purpose solutions more scalable and cost-effective. Black Sesame Technologies’ strategy mirrors historical trends in computing and the internet: from dedicated calculators and military networks to general-purpose PCs, smartphones, and global information infrastructure.

The migration from automotive chips to robotics underscores a key insight: breakthroughs in intelligent systems often begin at the hardware level. Reliable, high-performance chips enable robots to move beyond prototypes and operate safely in real-world conditions. Future competition will increasingly focus on who can build the most robust and dependable “digital bodies and intelligent brains” for robots.

Black Sesame Technologies is well-positioned to meet this challenge. Its automotive-grade computing platforms, rapid deployment in commercial partnerships, and open ecosystem approach provide a proven route to scale embodied intelligence. The company’s cross-industry expertise, combined with a clear roadmap from specialized to general-purpose robotics, positions it as a pivotal player in the sector’s ongoing transformation.

As embodied intelligence moves toward commercialization, Black Sesame Technologies’ timely entry into robotics could redefine industry standards. By applying its automotive experience, the company addresses reliability, cost, and development efficiency—the three bottlenecks limiting mass production of intelligent robots.

If realized, this strategy could not only unlock new markets but also enhance the company’s competitiveness through cross-disciplinary technology feedback and ecosystem synergy, building a resilient business structure for the age of intelligence.