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| DOBOT Atom | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Manufacturer | DOBOT Robotics |
| Country of origin | China |
| Year unveiled | 2025 |
| Status | In production |
| Price | ~$27,500 USD (199,000 CNY) |
| Availability | Commercially available |
| Website | dobot-robots.com |
The DOBOT Atom is a full-size humanoid robot developed by DOBOT Robotics (formally Shenzhen Yuejiang Technology Co., Ltd.), a Chinese robotics company headquartered in Shenzhen, Guangdong. Unveiled in March 2025, the Atom is DOBOT's entry into the humanoid robots market and the base model of the Atom product family, which also includes the DOBOT Atom Max, DOBOT Atom Trainer, and DOBOT Atom D. DOBOT describes the Atom as the world's first full-size humanoid robot combining dexterous manipulation with straight-knee walking. Standing 1.53 meters tall and weighing 62 kg, the Atom features 28 upper-body degrees of freedom, sub-millimeter positioning accuracy of plus or minus 0.05 mm, and an energy-efficient bipedal gait that the company claims reduces power consumption by 42% compared to traditional bent-knee walking. Priced at approximately $27,500 (199,000 yuan), the Atom is positioned as one of the more affordable full-size humanoid platforms on the market, significantly undercutting competitors such as the Unitree H1 (which starts at approximately $90,000). DOBOT began global mass deliveries of the Atom in June 2025 and had reached its third production batch by February 2026.
DOBOT Robotics was co-founded by Liu Peichao (also known as Jerry Liu) and Lang Xulin on July 30, 2015, in Shenzhen, China. The company began as a maker of affordable, lightweight desktop robotic arms targeted at educational applications and light industrial use. In October 2015, DOBOT launched a Kickstarter campaign for its first desktop robotic arm, which raised over $600,000, far exceeding its initial goal of $36,000. This success attracted an additional $3 million in third-round funding in April 2016, establishing DOBOT as one of China's most promising robotics startups.
In August 2016, DOBOT released the Magician, described as the world's first desktop-grade, high-precision, multifunctional robotic arm. The Magician could perform precision writing, laser engraving, and 3D printing. A calligraphy performance by the Magician was featured on the CCTV New Year's Gala broadcast in 2017, drawing significant public attention in China. The Magician was subsequently awarded a CES 2018 Innovation Award in November 2017.
DOBOT expanded its product portfolio over the following years. In November 2016, the company launched the M1, described as the world's first SCARA collaborative robot. In December 2020, DOBOT introduced the CR3, CR10, and CR16 collaborative robots, establishing a product range spanning payloads from 0.5 kg to 16 kg. By 2026, DOBOT offers eight main product lines (the CRA, CRAS, CR, CRS, MG400, M1 Pro, Nova, and Magician series), encompassing more than a dozen collaborative robot models. The company's educational robotics business became a defining feature of its identity, with the Magician series widely adopted in K-12 schools, universities, and vocational training programs for teaching robotics, artificial intelligence, and smart manufacturing.
By the end of 2024, DOBOT had shipped over 80,000 collaborative robots to customers in more than 80 countries and regions, ranking first among collaborative robot companies in China and second globally by market share (approximately 13%). The company holds nearly 1,000 patents and has developed more than 90% of its robot components in-house.
On December 23, 2024, DOBOT held its initial public offering on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (Stock Code: 2432.HK), raising HK$681 million (approximately US$87.6 million). The IPO made DOBOT the first Chinese collaborative robot manufacturer to achieve a public listing on the HKEX.
DOBOT unveiled the Atom in March 2025, marking the company's entry into the humanoid robotics market. The announcement coincided with DOBOT joining NVIDIA's Physics AI global partner ecosystem, signaling a strategic shift from desktop and industrial collaborative arms toward full-size embodied AI platforms. The Atom was introduced alongside a culinary-themed promotional video showing the robot preparing a nutritious breakfast, including placing toast, lettuce, and fruit on a plate and pouring milk.
The launch generated significant investor excitement. When preorders opened in March 2025 at a price of approximately 199,000 yuan (US$27,500), DOBOT's Hong Kong-listed shares surged nearly 28% in a single trading session. The company planned to begin mass manufacturing by mid-2025 to fulfill initial orders.
DOBOT positioned the Atom as a bridge between its decade of precision collaborative robot expertise and the emerging humanoid robotics market. The company describes itself as "the only embodied-intelligence enterprise born directly from the manufacturing floor," distinguishing itself from competitors that entered robotics through research labs or consumer electronics.
The DOBOT Atom stands 1.53 meters (153 cm) tall and weighs approximately 62 kg. Its proportions are designed to match a human-scale workspace, allowing the robot to operate at standard workstation heights ranging from 700 to 1,000 mm. Each arm spans 600 mm (without dexterous hand or gripper) and weighs approximately 6.5 kg.
The Atom features 28 degrees of freedom in its upper body, providing fine-grained manipulation control. The total body (including legs) has 41 degrees of freedom when equipped with dexterous hands. The degrees of freedom are distributed across the following body segments:
| Body segment | Degrees of freedom |
|---|---|
| Head | 2 DOF |
| Single arm (without hand/gripper) | 7 DOF x 2 = 14 DOF |
| Waist | 1 DOF |
| Single leg | 6 DOF x 2 = 12 DOF |
| Finger DOF per hand | 6 DOF (12 total for fingers) |
| Total (with dexterous hands) | 41 DOF |
| Total (without hands) | 29 DOF |
The 7-DOF arm configuration provides a 1:1 anthropomorphic structure relative to the human arm, enabling the robot to replicate the full range of human upper-body manipulation tasks. Each dexterous hand has five fingers with 6 degrees of freedom, enabling grasping, pinching, and fine manipulation of objects.
One of the Atom's most distinctive specifications is its single-arm repetitive positioning accuracy of plus or minus 0.05 mm. This sub-millimeter precision is directly inherited from DOBOT's decade of experience building precision collaborative robot arms. It enables tasks that most humanoid robots cannot perform reliably, including micro-component assembly, electronic soldering, precision calibration, and delicate laboratory handling. During demonstrations, DOBOT has shown the Atom picking up cherries by their stems without damaging the fruit, assembling chocolate gift boxes, handling push pins, and securing lids on hot beverages.
Each arm supports a maximum end-effector speed of 1.5 m/s and a single-arm payload capacity of 3.5 kg.
The Atom uses a straight-knee walking gait that mimics natural human biomechanics. Unlike many humanoid robots that walk with permanently bent knees (which consumes significant energy to maintain a crouched posture), the Atom's Anthropomorphic Walking System (AWS) keeps the legs straight during the stance phase of the gait cycle, similar to how humans walk. DOBOT claims this approach reduces energy consumption by 42% compared to traditional bent-knee walking, extending battery life during continuous operation.
The AWS generates gait patterns using deep imitation learning and reinforcement learning trained on analysis of thousands of recorded human walking motions. The resulting locomotion is designed to be stable and natural-looking, with the robot capable of navigating narrow industrial spaces and adapting to varying workstation heights. The maximum walking speed is 1.5 m/s (approximately 5.4 km/h).
| Category | Specification | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Physical | Height | 1.53 m (153 cm) |
| Physical | Weight | ~62 kg |
| Physical | Single arm span | 600 mm |
| Physical | Single arm weight | ~6.5 kg |
| Mobility | Upper-body degrees of freedom | 28 |
| Mobility | Total DOF (with hands) | 41 |
| Mobility | DOF per arm | 7 |
| Mobility | Finger DOF per hand | 6 |
| Mobility | DOF per leg | 6 |
| Mobility | Head DOF | 2 |
| Mobility | Waist DOF | 1 |
| Mobility | Max walking speed | 1.5 m/s (5.4 km/h) |
| Manipulation | Single arm payload | 3.5 kg |
| Manipulation | Max arm end-effector speed | 1.5 m/s |
| Manipulation | Repetitive positioning accuracy | plus or minus 0.05 mm |
| Manipulation | Fingers per hand | 5 |
| Computing | AI processing power | 1,500 TOPS (edge) |
| Computing | ROM-1 parameters | 100 million |
| Computing | ROM-1 control frequency | 24 Hz end-to-end |
| Computing | NDS control frequency | 200 Hz |
| Sensors | Head cameras | Binocular RGB (Full HD, 60 FPS) |
| Sensors | Depth sensor | Intel RealSense D455 (6 m range) |
| Power | Battery life | ~2 hours |
| Power | Charging time | ~1 hour |
| Software | Programming languages | Python, C++ |
| Software | SDK support | Yes |
| Price | Base price (China) | 199,000 CNY (~$27,500 USD) |
The Neuro-Driven Dexterity System (NDS) controls the Atom's 28 upper-body degrees of freedom through a Transformer-based neural architecture. Drawing inspiration from the co-evolution of the human brain and hand, NDS integrates binocular RGB vision with servo-level vibration suppression and 200 Hz high-frequency control loops. This combination enables smooth, human-like fine motor skills for tasks such as tool use, multi-specification component handling, and precision assembly.
The NDS architecture processes visual input from the robot's binocular cameras and depth sensors, generates motor commands through the Transformer model, and executes them with vibration compensation at the servo level. The 200 Hz control frequency is significantly faster than many competing humanoid platforms, enabling the Atom to perform tasks requiring steady, jitter-free hand movements.
The Anthropomorphic Walking System (AWS) governs the Atom's bipedal locomotion. The system uses a straight-knee walking gait trained through deep imitation learning and reinforcement learning, analyzing thousands of recorded human walking motions to generate realistic gait patterns. The resulting locomotion adapts to varying workstation heights (700 to 1,000 mm) and navigates narrow industrial spaces.
The energy efficiency benefit of straight-knee walking (42% less energy than bent-knee approaches) is significant for the Atom's practical deployment in environments requiring continuous operation. The system delivers stability and endurance for repetitive industrial tasks over extended shifts.
The Robot Operator Model-1 (ROM-1) is DOBOT's proprietary foundation model for robotic task execution. ROM-1 contains 100 million parameters and operates at a 24 Hz end-to-end control frequency, meaning it processes sensory input and generates motor commands 24 times per second in a continuous perception-decision-execution loop.
ROM-1 combines base models with vertical industry-specific models, trained through a combination of imitation learning and reinforcement learning. The system can autonomously decompose complex tasks into subtasks and make real-time decisions in unstructured environments. DOBOT claims ROM-1 delivers 7.7 times the computational power of industry-standard robotic control setups through its edge computing architecture, which provides up to 1,500 TOPS of AI processing capability.
DOBOT has also developed DOBOT-VLA, a vision-language-action model that extends the Atom's capabilities beyond preprogrammed tasks. The VLA model enables the robot to interpret natural language voice commands and react to uncertainties in real-world environments. By combining end-to-end technology with reinforcement learning, DOBOT-VLA translates abstract verbal commands into structured task chains and generalized movements. During a deployment at the K11 Art House cinema in Shenzhen, the DOBOT-VLA model allowed the Atom to operate autonomously for up to 14 hours, producing and selling over 1,000 cups of popcorn per day with no human assistance, pre-programmed routes, or remote control.
The Atom carries an array of sensors for environmental awareness and manipulation guidance:
| Location | Sensor | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Head | Full HD binocular camera (60 FPS) | Stereo vision with human-eye baseline spacing |
| Head | Intel RealSense D455 (RGB-D) | Depth perception (6 m range) |
| Wrists | RGB-D cameras (x2) | Close-range depth sensing for manipulation |
| Waist | RGB-D cameras (x2) | Obstacle detection and navigation |
The head-mounted binocular camera operates at 60 frames per second at Full HD resolution, with lens spacing calibrated to match human eye baseline distance. This spacing is designed to minimize motion sickness when the camera feed is streamed to a VR headset during teleoperation. The Intel RealSense D455 depth sensor provides a 6-meter effective range for environment mapping and object detection.
Higher-tier variants in the Atom family (specifically the Atom Trainer and Atom Max) add a 3D LiDAR sensor, a 360-degree microphone array, neodymium speakers, and additional computing resources including an Intel Core i9 processor and dedicated GPU.
The DOBOT Atom is the base model in a four-variant product family. Each variant targets different use cases and price points while sharing common arm design and manipulation capabilities.
| Variant | Total DOF | Height | Weight | Computing | Key differentiators | Target use | Approx. price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DOBOT Atom | 41 | 153 cm | ~62 kg | Edge computing (1,500 TOPS) | Standard industrial model; straight-knee walking; NDS; ROM-1 | Factory automation, service robotics | ~$27,500 |
| DOBOT Atom Max | 41 | 165 cm | ~62 kg | Intel i9 + GPU (1,500 TOPS; 41.15 TFLOPS FP32) | Full sensor suite; VR/MR teleoperation with markerless tracking; 3D LiDAR; dual control modes | Advanced research, industrial R&D | ~$129,000 |
| DOBOT Atom Trainer | 29 | 165 cm | ~62 kg | Intel i5 base + optional i9/GPU (1,500 TOPS) | Optional dexterous hands or grippers; embodied AI training tools; 3D LiDAR | AI training, education, research | ~$75,000 |
| DOBOT Atom D | 16 | 65 cm | ~20 kg | Intel i5 | Desktop upper-body only (no legs); 7-DOF dual arms; 2-DOF head; Ethernet for data transfer | Data collection, algorithm development | ~$36,500 |
The standard Atom is the mass-production model designed for industrial deployment at scale. It shares the same fundamental arm design (7-DOF per arm, plus or minus 0.05 mm accuracy, 3.5 kg payload, 1.5 m/s arm speed) and walking system (AWS with straight-knee gait) as the Atom Max. The key differences are that the Atom Max is taller (165 cm vs. 153 cm), adds VR/MR teleoperation hardware with markerless motion tracking and dual control modes (full-body and segmented), includes a 3D LiDAR for 360-degree spatial mapping, offers an upgraded Intel Core i9 processor with a dedicated 16 GB GDDR6 GPU, and provides a more comprehensive sensor suite with a 360-degree microphone array and neodymium speakers.
The Atom Max is priced at approximately $129,000, roughly 4.7 times the cost of the standard Atom, and targets research institutions and industrial R&D laboratories rather than large-scale factory deployment.
The DOBOT Atom Trainer shares the Atom Max's 165 cm physical frame but offers 29 degrees of freedom (without dexterous hands) and a lighter software package optimized for embodied AI training workflows. It supports optional dexterous hands or grippers and includes the same sensor suite as the Atom Max (3D LiDAR, RGB-D cameras, binocular vision). The Trainer is positioned for university research groups, AI training labs, and education programs.
The DOBOT Atom D is a legless, desktop-mounted upper-body platform standing only 65 cm tall and weighing approximately 20 kg. It features 7-DOF dual arms and a 2-DOF head with 16 total degrees of freedom. The Atom D is designed specifically for large-scale robotic data collection, supporting imitation learning, teleoperation data capture, and multimodal dataset generation. It uses Ethernet connectivity for efficient external data processing. Because all Atom variants share the same 7-DOF arm design and plus or minus 0.05 mm positioning accuracy, manipulation skills learned on the Atom D can transfer directly to the full-body Atom or Atom Max.
DOBOT positions the Atom for industrial tasks requiring high precision and adaptability in structured manufacturing environments. Target applications include automotive component assembly, electronic assembly and soldering, machine tending, quality inspection, screw driving, instrument calibration, and material handling on production lines. The robot's sub-millimeter precision makes it suitable for tasks that traditionally require specialized robotic arms or skilled human workers. The Atom has undergone preliminary testing in Chinese automotive factories and electronics manufacturing plants.
The Atom has been demonstrated and deployed in multiple service scenarios. DOBOT has shown the robot performing multi-machine beverage preparation in coffee shops, automated pharmaceutical retrieval in nighttime drugstore operations, and autonomous popcorn serving at a cinema. In a notable deployment at the K11 Art House cinema in Shenzhen (reported in early 2026), an Atom unit operated fully autonomously for up to 14 hours per day, independently producing and selling over 1,000 cups of popcorn without human assistance. The robot could handle unexpected disturbances: if popcorn was spilled, it recognized the change and proactively refilled the container; if someone moved the popcorn cup during filling, it autonomously re-identified the cup's position and completed the grasping task.
DOBOT's decade of experience serving the education market with its Magician series of desktop robotic arms extends to the Atom platform. The robot supports Python and C++ programming through its SDK, and DOBOT provides development documentation and training resources. In March 2026, one of the first Atom units deployed in Europe arrived at the RoboAI laboratory in Finland's Satakunta region as part of the EU-funded RoboFleet project. The laboratory plans to use the Atom for research in autonomous robot operation, human-robot collaboration, safe robotics development, and industrial and healthcare solution prototyping.
At the First Embodied Intelligence Robot Sports Games held in Wuxi, China (April 24 to 26, 2025), the Atom became the centerpiece of the event. The robot demonstrated capabilities including assembling chocolate gift boxes, stacking blocks, handling push pins, handing over beverages, shaking hands, and offering flowers, all executed through natural language voice commands. Wuxi Deputy Mayor Zhou Wendong personally interacted with the robot during the exhibition. The Atom earned the "Outstanding Intelligent Control Award" for its smooth, precise movements and adaptability across real-world scenarios.
The Atom's path from unveiling to mass production followed a rapid timeline:
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| March 2025 | Unveiling and preorder launch; shares surge ~28%; NVIDIA Physics AI partnership announced |
| April 2025 | Demonstration at First Embodied Intelligence Robot Sports Games in Wuxi; "Outstanding Intelligent Control Award" received |
| June 27, 2025 | Global delivery debut at launch conference in Nagoya, Japan; first production batch delivered in partnership with ASKA Corporation |
| October 2025 | DOBOT and ASKA reveal Atom as "Humanoid Colleague" for manufacturing, research, and service deployments |
| Early 2026 | Atom deployed at K11 Art House cinema in Shenzhen for fully autonomous popcorn operations |
| February 4, 2026 | Third batch of mass production and delivery initiated; synchronized movement demonstrations with rows of Atom units |
| March 2026 | First European deployment at RoboAI laboratory in Finland (EU-funded RoboFleet project) |
DOBOT officially debuted global mass production and delivery of the Atom at a launch conference held in Nagoya, Japan, on June 27, 2025. The event was organized in partnership with ASKA Corporation, a Japanese system integrator specializing in automotive components and control systems. Over 200 Japanese partners and dozens of industry media representatives attended the ceremony, where the first production batch was delivered on stage.
DOBOT CEO Liu Peichao stated at the event that "Human-robot collaboration is no longer a distant concept; it's a reality we are making accessible," highlighting the company's ten years of technical development leading to this milestone. The Nagoya launch was strategically chosen to signal DOBOT's commitment to the Japanese and broader Asian industrial automation market.
On February 4, 2026, DOBOT launched mass production and delivery of the third batch of Atom humanoid robots, signaling acceleration toward large-scale factory deployments planned throughout 2026. Footage from the delivery site showed rows of Atom units moving in synchronized formation, demonstrating stable bipedal walking, dynamic balance, coordinated dance routines, and high-precision assembly tasks. The synchronized demonstrations served as a quality control showcase, verifying consistent performance across production units.
Terra Robotics, a German robotics company, independently deployed an Atom unit in Lohne, Germany, for practical industrial testing following the third batch. Early assessments confirmed the technology was "more mature than many expected," though evaluators noted limitations in spontaneous decision-making and adaptive learning capabilities in unstructured scenarios.
The Atom enters a competitive and rapidly growing market for full-size humanoid robots, particularly among Chinese manufacturers. Its primary competitive advantage is its aggressive pricing (approximately $27,500), which significantly undercuts most comparable platforms.
| Feature | DOBOT Atom | Unitree H1 | UBTECH Walker S | Fourier GR-2 | Agility Digit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Height | 153 cm | 180 cm | 170 cm | 175 cm | 175 cm |
| Weight | ~62 kg | 47 kg | 77 kg | 63 kg | 65 kg |
| Total DOF | 41 | 19 | 41 | 53 | 16+ |
| Max walking speed | 1.5 m/s | 3.3 m/s | 1.2 m/s | 1.5 m/s | 1.5 m/s |
| Arm payload | 3.5 kg | ~30 kg | 5 kg | 3 kg | 16 kg |
| Positioning accuracy | plus or minus 0.05 mm | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Walking style | Straight-knee | Bent-knee | Bent-knee | Bent-knee | Digitigrade |
| Price | ~$27,500 | ~$90,000 | N/A | ~$100,000 | Lease only |
| Primary focus | Precision manipulation | Speed and locomotion | Service and patrol | General research | Warehouse logistics |
The Atom's sub-millimeter positioning accuracy (plus or minus 0.05 mm) is its standout technical differentiator, reflecting DOBOT's collaborative robot heritage. However, the Atom's maximum walking speed of 1.5 m/s is moderate compared to speed-focused platforms like the Unitree H1, which holds the Guinness World Record at 3.3 m/s. The Atom's 3.5 kg single-arm payload is also relatively modest, positioning the robot for precision tasks rather than heavy lifting.
DOBOT's position as the world's second-largest collaborative robot manufacturer and its global distribution network (80+ countries) provide logistical advantages in after-sales support and spare parts availability that pure humanoid-robot startups may struggle to match.
The DOBOT Atom has several acknowledged limitations: