Booster Robotics Unveils Open-Source Humanoid with Kung Fu Skills

Booster Robotics, a company in Beijing, has created the Booster T1, a humanoid robot. This small robot stands at just 1.2 meters tall and weighs about 30 kg. Yet, it is packed with some cool features. It's designed for developers and is open-source, which means anyone can work with it. The robot can walk, play soccer, and even do Kung Fu. It can move in many ways, like doing splits and rotating its joints 360 degrees.

One of its standout features is its tough shell. Made from strong materials, it can handle falls and bumps. It has something called push recovery, which means it can withstand up to 15 newton seconds of force. This is like a light push that the robot can absorb without tipping over. Even if it gets knocked down, it gets right back up.

The Booster T1 is not just about being tough. It serves as a development platform, allowing developers to create new applications. In the past, robots cost way more than you think, which slowed down innovation. With the Booster T1, developers and students can afford to experiment and test new ideas. Its small size makes it easy to carry and use in small spaces, where big robots can't go.

This robot made its first appearance at the World Robotics Conference in 2024. It showed off its skills, like playing football, where it had to predict and react to the ball's movements. This ability to interact with objects in a realistic manner sets it apart. It highlights the robot's strong build and agility.

Booster Robotics' CEO, Hao Chen, says AI drives the current boom in humanoid robots. The focus is on moving from being very specific in tasks to being versatile. The goal is to create robots that work in different settings. The Booster T1 aims to be a universal platform for developers, helping drive forward the evolution of productivity.

The robot's design is unique. Unlike many companies that use wheeled robots, Booster Robotics focuses on bipedal designs. This makes their robots adaptable to more situations. Playing soccer is a good test of a robot's intelligence and physical ability. It requires quick decision-making and movement.

Booster Robotics is already taking orders and plans to start mass production soon. They are launching a new round of financing to support this growth. The company has a strong team, including Hao Chen, who studied at Tsinghua University, and chief scientist Mingguo Zhao, who has 20 years of experience in robot control.

Booster's robots have done well in competitions but have faced strong opponents from the US, Germany, and South Korea. This shows the level of skill and quality Booster Robotics has achieved. They've even replicated complex robotic actions in a short time, like those seen in Boston Dynamics' videos. The future of AI hardware seems bright, with innovations happening faster than expected.