China’s UBTech unveils $41,000 humanoid robot in bid to make AI more affordable

The robot, developed in collaboration with the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Centre (X-Humanoid), is now available for pre-order, with deliveries expected in the second quarter, UBTech announced Wednesday, according to The Straits Times.

Standing 1.7 meters tall, the Tien Kung Xingzhe is an upgraded version of UBTech’s Tien Kung model released in April 2024. Designed for research applications demanding greater strength and stability, it also offers customizable components.

The robot can walk at 10 km per hour and traverse various terrains, including slopes, stairs, sand, and snow, while maintaining smooth motion and resisting shock and interference.

UBTech humanoid robots in a factory. Photo from X

Humanoid robots remain small, expensive, or not mass-produced. Chinese start-up Unitree Robotics gained national attention when its 1.8-meter H1 robot performed folk dances during China Central Television’s Lunar New Year gala in January. The H1 is priced at 650,000 yuan.

Shenzhen-based EngineAI launched its PM01 model in December for 88,000 yuan, though it is only 1.38 meters tall. Another bipedal model, SA01, is priced at US$5,400 but lacks an upper body.

LimX Dynamics, also based in Shenzhen, introduced its bipedal Tron 1 in October 2024, with an educational version starting at US$30,000.

Tesla’s Optimus, a general-purpose humanoid robot, is still in pre-mass production, but the company aims to produce several thousand units in 2025. CEO Elon Musk stated in January that if production scales to 1 million units per year, costs could drop below US$20,000.

The Tien Kung Xingzhe is powered by Huisi Kaiwu, a system developed by X-Humanoid, a research center founded in 2023 by UBTech, Xiaomi, and other partners.

UBTech has also launched a "humanoid robot research co-creation and co-research fund", aiming to raise 10 million yuan to accelerate innovation in real-world applications.