- “Tianpeng-1” uses AI, computer vision and robotic navigation to automate one of farming’s dirtiest jobs
- The launch reflects growing demand for robots in livestock farming as labor shortages intensify
A Chinese robotics startup has introduced what it says is the country’s first rail-free pig-pen cleaning robot, betting that artificial intelligence can help modernize one of agriculture’s most labor-intensive industries.
Taizhou-based iSeen recently unveiled the Tianpeng-1, an autonomous robot designed to navigate livestock facilities, identify waste and clean animal enclosures without human intervention.
The company says a single unit can perform work equivalent to that of three employees and has already secured orders from several large-scale farming operators.
A robot named after a pig
The system consists of three main components: the mobile robot itself, a hose reel and a high-pressure cleaning unit.
Three-dimensional laser sensors and computer vision technology enable the machine to move autonomously through barns.
Meanwhile, a camera mounted on the robotic arm identifies waste and helps the system avoid obstacles during operation. An in-house AI model coordinates navigation, cleaning and decision-making.
The robot’s name, Tianpeng-1, is a playful reference to Marshal Tianpeng, the celestial title of the pig-like character Zhu Bajie (猪八戒) from the Chinese classic Journey to the West.
No rails required
According to iSeen founder Xu Haihua (许海华), the company spent three years developing the robot and integrated large language model technology into the system to improve navigation and environmental awareness.
The machine can spray in all directions while maintaining obstacle-avoidance accuracy of about one centimeter, the company said.
Unlike comparable products overseas, which often rely on fixed rails installed inside livestock facilities, Tianpeng-1 moves on wheels, reducing installation costs and allowing greater deployment flexibility.
Xu said manufacturing costs have been cut by half compared with the previous generation of the product.
Bringing AI to the farm
Founded in Taizhou in Zhejiang Province, iSeen established operations at the city’s Optoelectronics Industry Innovation Center in 2024.
It has since expanded rapidly by focusing on technologies including three-dimensional laser navigation and AI-powered perception systems.
The company has also developed delivery robots and government service robots, while its educational companion robots have sold nearly 100,000 units.
According to Frost & Sullivan, the global livestock robotics market expanded from about $4 billion in 2021 to $6.8 billion in 2025 and is expected to reach $7.8 billion next year.
As aging populations and labor shortages reshape agriculture around the world, Chinese companies are increasingly experimenting with ways to deploy AI systems beyond factories and warehouses.
For Zhejiang, that means taking robots into places where automation has rarely ventured before: pig pens, chicken coops and livestock farms.
