Summary

The Tiangong humanoid robot, unveiled in April 2024 by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, marks a pivotal moment in global robotics as the world’s first full-size humanoid capable of dynamic running solely on electric power. This fully electric design is a game-changer for commercial viability and industrial application.

Tiangong stands at approximately 163 to 170 cm tall and weighs around 43 kg, built with a focus on agility and biomimetic movement. It boasts an impressive average running speed of 10 km/h and can reach a maximum of 12 km/h (7.5 mph). This speed, combined with its advanced perception systems, allows it to navigate complex, varied terrains—including slopes, stairs, sand, and gravel—with remarkable stability and human-like grace.

The robot is powered by a high-precision Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) with a processing capacity of up to 550 trillion operations per second (TOPS). Crucially, the developers have launched an open-source initiative, releasing structural blueprints, software architecture, and development frameworks. This strategy is designed to accelerate secondary development and integration across multiple sectors, including warehousing, logistics, power plant inspections, and future home services.

Editorial:

Why Tiangong Matters to the Future of Robotics

The arrival of Tiangong signifies much more than another prototype; it signals a fundamental shift in how humanoid robots will be engineered and deployed globally. For years, dynamic, full-size humanoids were dominated by costly, complex hydraulic systems or limited in their speed and agility. Tiangong has completely disrupted this model.

By demonstrating high-speed, dynamic running using a purely electric drive, Tiangong is instantly more energy-efficient and scalable for commercial mass production. This breakthrough validates the shift away from fluid-based systems toward clean, electric actuators, lowering the cost and maintenance barrier for businesses and researchers.

Furthermore, the decision to make the platform open-source is a strategic move that turns Tiangong into a global industry standard. Instead of guarding proprietary technology, the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center is inviting global talent to build applications on their robust, validated hardware platform. This collaborative, rapid-development model will inevitably speed up the timeline for humanoids moving from controlled factory floors to general-purpose, real-world utility. Tiangong is poised to be the foundational platform that launches the next era of embodied artificial intelligence.

Image: maginative