Mondo Launches Beni Dual-Wheeled Following Robot: Starting at 4,999 Yuan, Nearly 8,000 Orders on Kickstarter
Chinese startup Mondo has released Beni, a cat-sized dual-wheeled following robot priced at 4,999 yuan, aiming to validate embodied AI in consumer imaging by filling the gap for ground-based autonomous video capture.
On November 10, Chinese startup Mondo (Miaodong Technology) officially launched its first dual-wheeled following robot, Beni, for global sale. Weighing less than 2 kg and smaller than a cat, the device starts at 4,999 yuan in the domestic market, placing it directly within the price range of DJI's Mini series drones and high-end gimbal cameras.
Beni's core selling point is its unique "dual-wheel leg" design. It can travel at speeds exceeding 28 km/h on paved roads, navigate irregular terrain, and even perform jumps and somersaults. This design allows it to automatically compress and balance its chassis like an off-road vehicle, smoothly traversing grass-paved paths or gravel roads. For filming, Beni features a mechanical gimbal and a 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor, supporting 4K60P video recording and 2x electronic zoom.
In practical testing, Beni demonstrated strong pure-vision tracking capabilities. Testers could select a target in complex crowds without wearing a motion tracker, and Beni maintained lock-on even when passersby crossed or the target accelerated. After being tripped by a speed bump and righting itself, it could re-acquire and lock onto the out-of-frame target within 3-5 seconds by swinging its gimbal. However, current intelligent obstacle avoidance is limited at speeds above 5 m/s, and advanced actions like climbing stairs require manually enabling specific modes that reduce forward speed.
Mondo's team consists of former DJI executives and core algorithm engineers who previously worked on Tesla's Optimus humanoid robot project. They position Beni as "filling the gap in ground-based autonomous mobile imaging," primarily targeting low-angle dynamic following shots for family, pet recording, and urban sports like skateboarding and tennis. During pre-sales, Beni secured nearly 8,000 crowdfunding orders on Kickstarter, becoming one of the highest-funded single products in the consumer robotics category on the platform.