Tsinghua-linked Xianyin Weilai raises hundreds of millions for rope-driven space robots
Anhui-based Xianyin Weilai Technology, which says it was founded in September 2025, disclosed that it closed three funding rounds — angel, Pre-A and Series A — within four months between May and September 2026, raising several hundred million yuan in total, according to a Hard Kr report. Lanchi Ventures, Hillhouse Ventures and Binfu Capital led the angel round, Meridian Capital China led the Pre-A round, and Alibaba together with a China Mobile-affiliated fund led the Series A, with industrial investors including AgiBot and Trina Solar also taking part. The company says its rope-driven flexible space robots target in-orbit refueling, assisted de-orbiting and in-orbit inspection and maintenance, and it plans a space rendezvous-and-docking technology demonstration in 2027.
In-orbit servicing is an early-stage slice of commercial space; whether rope-driven flexible robots pass real on-orbit validation will decide if they move from demos to commercial contracts.