Beijing: The world’s first electric running humanoid robot, “Tiangong,” has been made open source as of Monday, marking a significant milestone in the development of humanoid robots. This initiative is anticipated to enhance the secondary development of humanoid robotics and expedite their integration into everyday human activities.
According to Emirates News Agency, Tiangong was developed by the Beijing-based National and Local Co-built Embodied AI Robotics Innovation Center and is recognized as the first full-sized humanoid robot powered exclusively by electricity. Xiong Youjun, the general manager of the center, highlighted the potential of using “Tiangong” as a foundational platform to foster advancements in embodied robotics and explore innovative areas such as body mechanics and embodied intelligence.
The Global Times reports that the “Tiangong” mother platform has undergone rigorous testing and validation. With its open-source release, other enterprises and research institutions can leverage it direc
tly, thus shortening the industry’s development cycle and reducing research and development costs, as explained by Liu Yizhang, a manager responsible for Tiangong at the center.
The open-source initiative includes two versions of the humanoid robot, “Tiangong 1.0 LITE” and “Tiangong Pro,” with already accessible software development and structural design documents for researchers and collaborators. Liu mentioned that the center plans to release additional open-source structural blueprints, software architecture, and electrical systems by the end of the year.
“Tiangong” boasts an average speed of 10 kilometers per hour and a peak running speed of 12 kilometers per hour, making it a leader in its category. It is capable of traversing various terrains, including slopes, stairs, grass, gravel, and sand.
Representatives from Peking University, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, UBTECH, and Jianghan University expressed optimism that the open-source project could catalyze development across the human
oid robotics supply chain. Liu noted that while many core components are independently developed by companies, performance standards remain varied. Open sourcing the robot aims to facilitate development on a unified platform.
Since its official release in April 2024, Tiangong has been utilized in several scenarios, such as warehouse pick-and-place tasks and patrols for electrical plants, the Global Times reports. The industry has been recognized by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology as a new frontier for technological competition and a crucial driver of economic growth.
In a related development, the Shanghai-based National Local Joint Humanoid Robot Innovation Centre has also introduced its open-source general-purpose humanoid robot, Qinglong, which stands at 185 cm tall and weighs 80 kg, as reported by the company.
