Beijing-based startup Noetix Robotics has introduced a compact bipedal robot called Bumi, priced at ¥9,998 (about $1,400). At 94 cm tall and weighing 12 kg, this «small» humanoid can work for home and education: it can walk, balance, respond to voice, and dance, and most importantly, it costs as much as a flagship smartphone.
Beijing-based startup Noetix Robotics has introduced a compact bipedal robot called Bumi, priced at ¥9,998 (about $1,400). At 94 cm tall and weighing 12 kg, this «small» humanoid can work for home and education: it can walk, balance, respond to voice, and dance, and most importantly, it costs as much as a flagship smartphone.
According to Interesting Engineering, the manufacturer calls Bumi «the first consumer humanoid for less than ¥10,000.» The affordability is explained by lightweight composites, a proprietary motion control system, and a simplified modular architecture that is focused not on workshops, but on educational and household scenarios. The 48 V battery with more than 3.5 Ah provides up to 1–2 hours of operation; block «drag-and-drop» programming is provided for beginners.
In demos, Bumi demonstrates smooth gait and stability for its class, focusing on basic manipulation and user interaction. The company presents the device as a «bridge» between lab prototypes and the mass market: a compact bipedal companion that can be gradually trained for tasks at home or in the classroom.
However, the main question is the low cost of the product, and here the developers explained in detail such a low cost. Firstly, dimensions: a smaller case, and therefore smaller drives and energy consumption. Secondly, vertical integration: proprietary controllers and software reduce licensing costs. Thirdly, focus: the rejection of «heavy» industrial functions in favor of education and hobbies keeps the cost down.
Noetix was founded in September 2023 by a team of graduates from Tsinghua and Zhejiang University. Before that, it had collected more than 2.5 thousand applications for the previous humanoid N2 and even participated in a «half marathon» of robots. Pre-orders for Bumi should open during the Double 11–Double 12 shopping festivals (November 11–December 12). For scale: a full-size Unitree starts at about $6,000, while Western Optimus, Figure or Apptronik cost many times more. In this way, Bumi closes the gap between price and capabilities.
Previously, dev.ua wrote about how Figure humanoid robots have been working at the BMW factory for months without days off. This is the first case in the world when humanoid robots are officially involved in serial automobile production.
