Summary:

 

Booster K1 is a 95 cm tall humanoid robot built by Beijing-based Booster Robotics. Engineered as an entry-level platform for embodied intelligence, it features 22 degrees of freedom, an Nvidia Jetson Orin NX brain, and a price tag that defies industry norms—just $5,000. With its nimble frame and expressive motion, K1 is ideal for classrooms, labs, and interactive exhibitions.

 

Editorial:

 

In a market dominated by six-figure humanoids and DARPA-grade giants, Booster Robotics has done something quietly radical: they built a robot for the rest of us. The Booster K1 isn’t just affordable—it’s expressive, compact, and surprisingly capable. Standing at 95 cm and weighing under 20 kg, it dances, sprints, and charms with a fluidity that belies its price point.

 

But K1 isn’t a toy—it’s a canvas. Powered by an Nvidia Jetson Orin NX and equipped with 22 degrees of freedom, depth vision, and onboard audio, it’s a serious platform for embodied AI development. Whether you’re prototyping gesture-based interfaces, teaching robotics in a STEM classroom, or staging interactive demos, K1 delivers.

 

Booster Robotics calls it an “entry-level development platform,” but that undersells the emotional impact of seeing a $5K humanoid groove like Michael Jackson. It’s not just a robot—it’s a signal: that embodied intelligence is no longer reserved for elite labs. With K1, the future walks in on two legs—and it’s smiling.

 

Specifications:

 

Dimensions & Build

- Height: 95 cm   

- Weight: 19.5 kg   

- Design Intent: Introductory embodied‑AI platform for classrooms, labs, and competitions  

- Construction:  

  - Lightweight composite frame  

  - Integrated Booster GYM 2.0 motion system  

  - Portable, suitcase‑ready form factor  

- Developer: Booster Robotics Technology Co., Ltd. (北京加速进化科技有限公司)   

- Launch Context: Marketed as a RoboCup KidSize champion‑class platform (2025)   

 

Mobility

- Locomotion: Full bipedal walking  

- Capabilities:  

  - Walking, balancing, joint bending, object interaction   

  - Stand‑up‑from‑fall (Humanoid.guide navigation score)   

  - Competition‑grade durability (RoboCup 2025 KidSize champion)   

- Walking Autonomy: Up to 40 minutes (active mode)   

 

Note: No incline, step height, or speed metrics published.

 

Degrees of Freedom

- Total DOF: 22 DOF   

- Breakdown:  

  - Dynamic joints across hips, knees, ankles, arms, and head (per demo description)   

 

Actuation

- Actuator Type: Electric actuators (not explicitly specified)  

- Capabilities:  

  - Agile, competition‑grade motion  

  - Smooth, expressive movement  

 

Note: No torque or joint‑speed data published.

 

Manipulation

- Capabilities:  

  - Basic object interaction (education + research use)   

- Limitations:  

  - Humanoid.guide manipulation score: 0/5 (not designed for industrial tasks)   

 

Note: No payload or grip‑force data published.

 

Perception & Sensors

Confirmed capabilities:

- Vision system (details not published)  

- Sensor suite for balance and locomotion  

- ROS2‑compatible sensor interfaces (via open‑source SDK)   

 

Note: No camera resolution, FOV, IMU, or tactile‑sensor details published.

 

Compute & AI

- Compute Options: 48 / 117 / 200 TOPS (dense AI compute tiers)   

- AI Systems:  

  - Optional edge LLM support (TTS + ASR)   

  - YOLO and other mainstream AI‑algorithm compatibility   

- Software:  

  - Open‑source development stack  

  - ROS2 support  

  - Simulation support: Isaac Sim, MuJoCo, Webots   

 

Battery & Power

- Runtime: ~40 minutes (active walking)   

- Charging: Not published  

- Power Source: Electric  

 

Connectivity

- Mobile‑app control (network configuration + remote control)   

- ROS2 communication stack  

- Developer‑friendly interfaces for low‑level and high‑level control  

 

Applications

- Embodied‑AI education  

- University and lab research  

- RoboCup competitions  

- Motion‑control experimentation  

- Simulation‑to‑real training  

 

Pricing

- $5,999 – $6,000 (official listings)   

 

Booster Robotics has NOT published:

 

Mobility

- Walking speed  

- Step height  

- Max incline  

- Turning radius  

- Fall‑recovery time (beyond demo capability)

 

Manipulation

- Payload  

- Grip force  

- Joint torque  

- Joint speed  

- Hand DOF breakdown

 

Sensors

- Camera resolution  

- Depth sensor type  

- Field of view  

- IMU specifications  

- Tactile sensing

 

Battery & Power

- Battery capacity  

- Charge time  

- Power draw

 

Environmental Ratings

- Operating temperature  

- Humidity tolerance  

- IP rating

 

Image: Generationrobots

 

Company Source:

 

Booster Robotics – K1 Official Database Entry  

https://www.booster.tech/booster-k1/  

 

Key News & Coverage:

 

Booster Robotics Launches K1: A RoboCup‑Winning Humanoid for $5,000  

https://www.humanoidsdaily.com/news/booster-robotics-launches-k1-robocup-champion-platform  

 

CES: Booster Robotics Brings RoboCup Champs to Vegas (T1 & K1)  

https://floridapolitics.com/archives/771384-ces-booster-robotics-brings-robocup-champs-to-vegas/  

 

K1 from Booster Robotics: The Small Humanoid That Challenges Unitree and Nao  

https://www.generationrobots.com/blog/en/k1-from-booster-robotics-the-small-humanoid-that-challengesunitree-and-nao/