Tiangong, which China calls the world’s first fully electric running humanoid robot, has just been open-sourced. Developed by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center (X-Humanoid), Tiangong runs at an average speed of 10 kilometers per hour (about 6.2 miles per hour) and can max out at 12 kilometers per hour (7.5 miles per hour). While it can’t quite keep up with Robot Era’s Star1—the newly crowned fastest humanoid robot, which reaches speeds of nearly 13 kilometers (8 miles) per hour—it does surpass the previous record holder, Unitree’s H1, which reached just under 12 kilometers (7.4 miles) per hour.The robot’s versatility is evident in its ability to traverse various terrains, including slopes, stairs, grass, gravel, and sand. This makes it well-suited for environments that require dynamic movement, whether in an industrial setting or more unpredictable outdoor spaces.The open-source release includes two versions: a lite version and a pro version, catering to different levels of user needs and technical capabilities.Since its release in April 2024, Tiangong has already been deployed in a range of practical applications. It has taken on warehouse pick-and-place tasks and helped patrol electrical plants, showing its potential to assist in both logistics and maintenance operations.The Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center has also committed to releasing more blueprints and system updates for Tiangong by the end of 2024. The innovation center, established just a year ago, was recently upgraded to a national level research hub. That means the center established in will receive funding from Beijing as well as the central government to accelerate research and development.The center, the first of its kind in China, said it will use the increased funding to establish industry standards, reduce R&D costs for enterprises, expand use cases, and accelerate the product development. The ultimate goal is to make humanoid robots essential in industries like manufacturing and logistics.#airobot #tiangong #humanoidrobot #humanoid #robot #robotics #china #chinatechnology #ai #ainews #artificialintelligence #embodiedai #industry40 #industrialautomation
