“Tiangong” open sourced to boost Humanoid Robotics, a success that will promote secondary development in embodied robotics.
The world’s first electric-powered running humanoid robot, “Tiangong,” was made open-source on Monday, a move aimed at facilitating further development in humanoid robotics and hastening their integration into human life.
Developed by Beijing’s National and Local Co-built Embodied AI Robotics Innovation Center, Tiangong is recognized as the first full-sized humanoid robot to operate solely on electric power.
Xiong Youjun, the general manager of the innovation center, explained to the Global Times that using Tiangong as a base platform will promote secondary development in embodied robotics and enable exploration in areas like body mechanics and embodied intelligence.
According to Liu Yizhang, a manager involved with Tiangong, extensive testing and validation have been conducted on the “Tiangong” base platform. Opening it up to other enterprises and research institutions will speed up industry development cycles and reduce research and development costs, Liu shared with the Global Times.
The open-source initiative includes two versions of the humanoid robot, “Tiangong 1.0 LITE” and “Tiangong Pro,” with available software development resources and structural design documents for researchers and collaborators, Liu added.
By year-end, additional open-source resources, including structural blueprints, software frameworks, and electrical systems, are planned for release by the center.
“Tiangong” boasts an average speed of 10 kilometers per hour, with a maximum running speed of 12 kilometers per hour. It is designed to navigate diverse terrains, including slopes, stairs, grass, gravel, and sand.
Representatives from institutions such as Peking University, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, UBTECH, and Jianghan University have expressed optimism that this open-source initiative will benefit the entire humanoid robotics supply chain. Liu noted that while many core components are independently developed, there is inconsistency in performance standards; a unified open-source platform can address this challenge.
Since its official debut in April 2024, Tiangong has already been applied to various scenarios, including warehouse pick-and-place tasks and patrol duties at electrical plants, according to the Global Times.
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has identified the robotics sector as a key area for technological innovation and a driver of economic growth.
In a related development, Shanghai’s National Local Joint Humanoid Robot Innovation Center recently introduced “Qinglong,” another open-source humanoid robot standing at 185 cm tall and weighing 80 kg.
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