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The SkyWalker 2 (Chinese: Tianxingzhe 2 Hao) is a full-size humanoid robot developed by EIR Technology (formally Sichuan Embodied Humanoid Robot Technology Co., Ltd.), a robotics company headquartered in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China. Standing 165 cm tall and weighing 55 kg, the SkyWalker 2 features 55 degrees of freedom, making it one of the most articulated humanoid platforms produced by a Chinese startup. The robot is designed for applications in intelligent manufacturing, industrial inspection, elder care, and commercial services.
SkyWalker 2 is the successor to the SkyWalker 1, which EIR famously developed in just 69 days from founding to prototype completion, a timeline that drew national attention and established the company as a notable entrant in China's rapidly expanding humanoid robot industry. With over 90% localization of core components and partnerships with Tencent Cloud, EIR positions itself as a vertically integrated player in the Sichuan robotics ecosystem.
EIR Technology, whose full legal name is Sichuan Embodied Humanoid Robot Technology Co., Ltd. (Sichuan Jushen Renxing Jiqiren Keji Youxian Gongsi), was founded in September 2024 in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province. The company was established as a core incubation enterprise of the Robotics Research Center at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC), one of China's leading research universities in electronics and information technology [1].
The company is led by Dr. Feng Zhenyu, who serves as chairman and general manager (also referred to as CEO and CTO in English-language reporting). Under his leadership, EIR has focused on building an integrated ecosystem spanning research and development, manufacturing, sales, and after-service support for both humanoid and quadruped robotic platforms [2].
EIR draws on institutional backing from three research partners:
This three-way collaboration between industry, academia, and applied research institutions forms the backbone of EIR's technical development strategy. The company has emphasized that its approach leverages Sichuan's precision manufacturing heritage, a regional strength historically rooted in the province's aerospace and defense industries.
In May 2025, EIR completed an angel round of financing valued at "tens of millions of yuan" (estimated at roughly $5 to $15 million USD), reaching a valuation in the "hundreds of millions of yuan" range. The round was co-led by Ceyuan Ventures, a venture capital firm focused on early-stage technology companies, and Peikun Fund [4]. The investment was directed toward scaling production of the SkyWalker series and advancing the company's artificial intelligence capabilities, including its motion control algorithms and multimodal perception systems.
The funding round attracted attention within the Chinese venture capital community due to EIR's unusually rapid product development timeline and its position in Chengdu, a city that had not previously been a major center for humanoid robotics. Most of China's leading humanoid robot companies are concentrated in the Yangtze River Delta (Shanghai, Hangzhou) and the Pearl River Delta (Shenzhen, Guangzhou), making EIR's emergence from western China a noteworthy development [4].
Before the SkyWalker 2, EIR gained recognition for the SkyWalker 1 (Tianxingzhe 1 Hao), which was Sichuan Province's first commercial humanoid robot. The company achieved the remarkable feat of going from founding to a working prototype in just 69 days, setting what was described as a new record for the fastest concept-to-product timeline in the central and western regions of China [5].
The SkyWalker 1 was officially released on December 16, 2024, approximately three months after EIR's founding. The development process required breakthroughs across multiple engineering domains in rapid succession: mechanical design, dynamic simulation, reinforcement learning training, manufacturing assembly, and hardware debugging [6].
| Specification | SkyWalker 1 |
|---|---|
| Height | 165 cm (1.65 m) |
| Weight | ~50 kg |
| Battery life | 1.5 hours (90 minutes) |
| Motors | 40+ sport motors |
| Localization rate | >90% |
| Capabilities | Autonomous walking, object carrying, tool operation |
| Launch date | December 16, 2024 |
Following its unveiling, the SkyWalker 1 appeared at several public events. In January 2025, the robot made a notable appearance at the Twin Towers in the Chengdu High-Tech Zone, where EIR showcased new collaboration scenarios and an updated visual design for the platform [7]. The company reported receiving "a lot of intent orders" for both the SkyWalker 1 and its Lingtong series of quadruped robot dogs [6].
Planned upgrades for the SkyWalker 1 included the addition of electronic skin technology to provide tactile feedback (external feedback such as pressure and material detection), a 10 kg weight reduction, two-handed manipulation capability, and autonomous navigation in flexible manufacturing environments [6]. Many of these improvements were ultimately incorporated into the SkyWalker 2.
The SkyWalker 2 was developed as a comprehensive upgrade to the SkyWalker 1, addressing the predecessor's limitations in battery life, degrees of freedom, and sensor capabilities. EIR's engineering team focused on four key areas of improvement: performance, perception, interaction, and spatial intelligence [8].
The development drew on EIR's core technical competencies in two areas: robot full-body motion control and multimodal perception fusion. The motion control system enables coordinated whole-body movement using a bionic waist joint design that allows the robot to bend, twist, and maintain balance even under demanding conditions. The perception system integrates depth sensing with environmental mapping to support autonomous navigation and task execution [3].
EIR achieved over 90% localization of core components, meaning the vast majority of the robot's key parts are designed and manufactured domestically, primarily in Chengdu. This includes the company's proprietary high-compact integrated joint modules, which Feng Zhenyu has described as a significant cost advantage compared to competitors who rely on imported actuators and drive components [2]. The joints use a combination of harmonic and planetary gear drives to achieve high torque density in a compact form factor.
The SkyWalker 2 represents a substantial upgrade over its predecessor across nearly every measurable dimension. The following table summarizes the robot's key technical parameters.
| Category | Specification | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Physical | Height | 165 cm (5 ft 5 in) |
| Physical | Weight | 55 kg (121 lb) |
| Physical | Material | Lightweight aluminum alloy + composite shell |
| Mobility | Total degrees of freedom | 55 |
| Mobility | DOF per hand | 12 |
| Mobility | Max walking speed | 1.94 m/s (7.0 km/h, 4.3 mph) |
| Manipulation | Payload capacity | 15 kg |
| Manipulation | Fingers per hand | 5 |
| Power | Battery life | 3 hours |
| Computing | LLM integration | Yes |
| Computing | Response latency | 350 ms |
| Sensors | Depth sensors | Yes |
| Actuators | Type | Lightweight servo + bionic waist joints |
| Actuators | Gear technology | Harmonic / planetary drives |
| Connectivity | Interfaces | Ethernet, Wi-Fi |
The SkyWalker 2 stands 165 cm tall, matching the height of its predecessor but carrying 5 kg more mass (55 kg versus 50 kg for the SkyWalker 1). The additional weight is attributed to the increased number of actuators needed to support 55 degrees of freedom, a larger battery pack, and enhanced sensor modules. The robot's body is constructed from a combination of lightweight aluminum alloy for the structural frame and composite materials for the outer shell, balancing durability with weight management.
The robot's form factor places it at a height comparable to the average Chinese adult female, enabling it to interact naturally with human-scale environments including factory workstations, reception desks, and care facility spaces.
With 55 degrees of freedom, the SkyWalker 2 is among the most articulated Chinese humanoid robots. Each hand provides 12 DOF across five fingers, enabling dexterous manipulation of tools and objects. This hand articulation level is comparable to high-end dexterous hands found on platforms such as the Fourier Intelligence GR-2 (12 DOF per hand) and exceeds the articulation of many competing platforms [9].
The bionic waist joint is a distinctive design feature. Unlike simpler single-axis waist joints found on many humanoid platforms, EIR's bionic waist provides multi-axis rotation that coordinates with the legs and torso to produce more natural, human-like movement patterns. This design allows the robot to twist, bend laterally, and lean forward or backward with smooth, coordinated motion rather than stiff, segmented movements.
The SkyWalker 2 achieves a maximum walking speed of 1.94 m/s (approximately 7.0 km/h or 4.3 mph). This places it in the upper range of walking speeds for production humanoid robots, though it falls short of platforms specifically optimized for speed such as the Unitree H1 (3.3 m/s) or the UBTECH Walker S series.
EIR's motion control algorithms provide what the company describes as "highly robust" locomotion across varied terrain. The control system uses reinforcement learning-trained policies to maintain stability on flat surfaces, slopes, and moderately uneven ground. The bionic waist joint plays a critical role in dynamic balance, allowing the robot to shift its center of mass smoothly during walking and turning.
| Locomotion comparison | SkyWalker 2 | Unitree G1 | UBTECH Walker S1 | Fourier GR-2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max walking speed | 1.94 m/s | ~2.0 m/s | 1.2 m/s | 1.0 m/s |
| Height | 165 cm | 132 cm | 170 cm | 175 cm |
| Weight | 55 kg | 35 kg | 77 kg | 63 kg |
| Total DOF | 55 | 23-43 | 42 | 53 |
| Battery life | 3 hours | ~2 hours | 2 hours | 2 hours |
The SkyWalker 2's hands feature five fingers per hand with 12 degrees of freedom each, enabling a range of grasping patterns including power grips, precision pinches, and tool holding. The 15 kg payload capacity refers to the robot's overall carrying ability, allowing it to transport moderately heavy objects such as inspection equipment, small packages, or care facility supplies.
The dexterous hand design supports the robot's target applications in manufacturing (handling parts and tools), inspection (operating handheld instruments), and elder care (assisting with daily living tasks such as handing objects to patients).
The SkyWalker 2's battery provides approximately 3 hours of operation, a significant improvement over the SkyWalker 1's 1.5-hour battery life. This doubling of endurance was achieved despite the increased power demands of additional actuators and sensors, suggesting improvements in battery capacity, motor efficiency, or both.
Three hours of battery life places the SkyWalker 2 at the upper end of endurance for current humanoid robots. Most competing platforms offer 1.5 to 2.5 hours of mixed-use operation. The extended runtime is particularly relevant for the robot's target applications in factory inspection and elder care, where continuous operation over multi-hour shifts is desirable.
The SkyWalker 2 integrates large language model (LLM) capabilities for natural language interaction, with a reported response latency of 350 milliseconds. This enables the robot to process verbal commands, engage in basic conversation, and provide spoken responses in service and care scenarios.
The computing system supports the robot's perception pipeline, which processes depth sensor data for environmental mapping, obstacle detection, and object recognition. The combination of LLM-based language understanding and depth-based spatial perception forms the foundation of the robot's "spatial intelligence" capabilities, allowing it to understand both verbal instructions and the physical layout of its environment.
Connectivity is provided through Ethernet for high-bandwidth, low-latency connections in fixed installations (such as factory control rooms) and Wi-Fi for wireless operation in mobile deployment scenarios.
The SkyWalker 2 improves on its predecessor in virtually every dimension. The following table highlights the key differences between the two generations.
| Specification | SkyWalker 1 | SkyWalker 2 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Height | 165 cm | 165 cm | Same |
| Weight | ~50 kg | 55 kg | +5 kg |
| Degrees of freedom | ~40+ (motors) | 55 | +15 DOF |
| Max walking speed | Not disclosed | 1.94 m/s | New capability |
| Battery life | 1.5 hours | 3 hours | 2x improvement |
| Payload capacity | Not disclosed | 15 kg | New specification |
| LLM integration | Not disclosed | Yes (350 ms latency) | New capability |
| DOF per hand | Not disclosed | 12 | New specification |
| Depth sensors | Not disclosed | Yes | New capability |
| Spatial intelligence | No | Yes | New capability |
The most notable improvements are the doubled battery life (from 1.5 to 3 hours), the increase in degrees of freedom to 55, the addition of LLM-based language interaction, and enhanced spatial perception capabilities. These upgrades collectively transform the platform from a walking prototype into a more capable system suitable for real-world deployment.
The SkyWalker 2's primary application domain is intelligent manufacturing. EIR has deployed its robots in factories and industrial parks where they perform equipment inspection rounds, monitor production line status, and execute basic service operations. The robot's 15 kg payload capacity and dexterous hands allow it to carry inspection instruments and interact with control panels and equipment interfaces [8].
China's manufacturing sector has shown strong interest in humanoid robots as potential solutions to labor shortages, particularly in repetitive inspection and monitoring tasks that are difficult to automate with fixed industrial robots. The SkyWalker 2's human-like form factor allows it to navigate factory floors designed for human workers without requiring infrastructure modifications.
Factory and facility inspection is one of the earliest practical applications for the SkyWalker 2. The robot can be programmed to follow inspection routes through industrial facilities, using its depth sensors and camera systems to detect anomalies in equipment condition, read gauges and displays, and record environmental data. This application is particularly valuable in hazardous environments such as chemical plants or high-temperature manufacturing areas where human inspectors face safety risks.
EIR has identified elder care as a high-priority market for the SkyWalker 2, reflecting China's rapidly aging population and the country's growing demand for care services. According to China's National Bureau of Statistics, the country's population aged 60 and above exceeded 310 million in 2025, creating significant pressure on healthcare and social service systems [10].
The robot's LLM integration enables basic conversational interaction with elderly residents, while its manipulation capabilities support tasks such as delivering meals, carrying personal items, and providing companionship through structured activities. The 3-hour battery life allows the robot to operate through extended care shifts without recharging.
EIR's work in the elder care space is complemented by its development of the AIQ (Ai Qiu EMO1), a dedicated emotional interaction humanoid designed specifically for companionship and care applications (see below).
The SkyWalker 2 is also positioned for deployment in commercial service environments including hotel lobbies, exhibition halls, retail spaces, and cultural tourism venues. In these settings, the robot can serve as a receptionist, guide, or information assistant, using its language capabilities to interact with visitors and its mobility to escort guests or deliver items.
In September 2025, EIR Technology established a strategic partnership with Tencent Cloud, one of China's largest cloud computing platforms. Under the agreement, Tencent Cloud provides EIR with computing power, data analytics, and cloud-based coordination capabilities to support advanced robotics development [8].
The partnership aims to build what both companies describe as an "open, intelligent, and secure humanoid robotics ecosystem." Tencent Cloud's contributions include its global cloud infrastructure and audio-visual technology, which enable robots to achieve more advanced self-learning, environment adaptation, and group collaboration. The cloud-based coordination capabilities are particularly relevant for multi-robot deployments in factories and large facilities, where multiple SkyWalker 2 units might need to coordinate their inspection routes and share environmental data [11].
This partnership places EIR alongside other Chinese humanoid robot companies that have secured cloud and AI partnerships with major technology firms. Unitree Robotics has partnered with Tencent Robotics X Lab, while UBTECH has established collaborations with several of China's internet giants [12].
EIR has also partnered with TD Tech, a Chengdu-based communication solutions company, to develop what the companies describe as an "independently controllable robot brain." This collaboration focuses on the computing and communication hardware that powers the robot's autonomous decision-making capabilities, with the goal of creating a processing platform that relies entirely on domestically developed components [2].
The collaboration with Tianfu Jiangxi Laboratory extends beyond basic research support. EIR and the laboratory have jointly established the "Frontier Research Center for Interactive Humanoid Robots," a dedicated facility focused on advancing human-robot interaction technologies. This center supports research into multimodal perception, emotion recognition, and natural language interaction for humanoid platforms [3].
In addition to its humanoid SkyWalker series, EIR produces the Lingtong series of quadruped robots (robot dogs). These four-legged platforms are designed for applications where wheeled or bipedal robots face challenges, such as rough terrain navigation, outdoor patrol, and agricultural inspection. The company reported receiving significant market interest in the Lingtong line alongside the SkyWalker humanoid series [6].
EIR's dual focus on humanoid and quadruped platforms mirrors a broader trend in the Chinese robotics industry, where several companies (including Unitree Robotics, Deep Robotics, and LimX Dynamics) have expanded from quadruped robots into humanoid platforms, or vice versa, leveraging shared expertise in legged locomotion control.
EIR announced plans for the AIQ (also written as Ai Qiu EMO1), a companion-focused humanoid robot that emphasizes emotional interaction. Standing 1.43 meters tall and weighing 38 kg, the AIQ is smaller than the SkyWalker 2 and is designed specifically for elder care, education, healthcare, and consumer service applications [13].
Key features of the AIQ include:
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Height | 143 cm (4 ft 8 in) |
| Weight | 38 kg |
| Facial expression | 3D ultra-short-throw projection (59 facial control points) |
| Emotion recognition | Proprietary system recognizing 15+ emotion types at 85%+ accuracy |
| Interaction model | "Emotion-Language-Action" large model |
| Design inspiration | Dragon lizard (a protected Chinese species endemic to Southwest China) |
The AIQ's most distinctive technical feature is its use of 3D ultra-short-throw projection for facial expressions rather than the silicone skin or display screens used by most competitors. This approach allows for precise control over 59 facial points, producing more natural and varied expressions than typical LED or LCD face displays [13].
Feng Zhenyu described the AIQ as "the world's first humanoid robot for emotional interaction," designed to detect human emotions through voice analysis and facial recognition and respond with appropriate language and gestures. The robot's exterior design draws from the dragon lizard, reflecting Sichuan's biodiversity and cultural identity [13].
The SkyWalker 2 enters a highly competitive Chinese humanoid robot market that has experienced explosive growth since 2024. In 2025, global humanoid robot shipments reached approximately 13,317 units, with Chinese companies capturing the majority of that volume. AgiBot led with 5,100 units, followed by Unitree Robotics at 4,200 units and UBTECH at 1,000 units [14].
China's dominance in humanoid robot production is supported by several structural advantages: a deep manufacturing supply chain, lower production costs, strong government policy support, and a large domestic market driven by labor shortages in manufacturing and elder care. The Chinese government's November 2023 guidelines from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology set an explicit goal of establishing an innovation system for humanoid robots by the end of 2025, providing policy momentum for companies like EIR [15].
EIR operates within Chengdu's growing robotics cluster, which has been recognized as the only national-level full-chain intelligent robot cluster in western China. In 2025, Chengdu's core AI and robot sectors generated output worth 150 billion yuan, with a growth rate exceeding 35% [16]. The city hosts over 100 major robot enterprises and provides infrastructure for hardware, software, chip design, and precision manufacturing.
Sichuan Province has designated artificial intelligence as the "No. 1 innovation project" for its industrial development, and the provincial government's three-year action plan targets 60 billion yuan in robot industry chain value by 2026 [17]. This supportive policy environment provides EIR with access to government resources, testing facilities, and pilot deployment opportunities.
The Chengdu Humanoid Robot Innovation Center (CHRIC), a separate organization, has also developed humanoid robots for showcase events including the 2025 World Games in Chengdu, further raising the city's profile as a robotics hub [18].
At approximately $85,000, the SkyWalker 2 occupies a mid-range position in the Chinese humanoid robot market. The following table compares its pricing with other prominent Chinese humanoid platforms.
| Robot | Manufacturer | Price (USD) | Height | DOF | Battery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SkyWalker 2 | EIR Technology | ~$85,000 | 165 cm | 55 | 3 hours |
| Unitree G1 (Base) | Unitree Robotics | ~$16,000 | 132 cm | 23 | ~2 hours |
| Unitree H1 | Unitree Robotics | ~$90,000 | 180 cm | 19 | ~2 hours |
| Walker S Tiangong | UBTECH | ~$41,300 | 170 cm | 42 | ~2 hours |
| GR-2 | Fourier Intelligence | ~$100,000+ | 175 cm | 53 | 2 hours |
| Unitree R1 | Unitree Robotics | ~$5,900 | 120 cm | 21 | ~2 hours |
The SkyWalker 2's pricing reflects its higher degree-of-freedom count (55 DOF), longer battery life (3 hours), and full-size form factor. While significantly more expensive than Unitree's compact G1, it offers capabilities (dexterous 5-finger hands with 12 DOF each, extended battery, and higher payload) that position it for industrial and commercial applications rather than the research and education market that the G1 primarily serves.
Despite its technical capabilities, EIR faces several challenges common to emerging humanoid robot companies:
Scale and production capacity. As a company founded in September 2024, EIR's manufacturing capacity is far smaller than established players like Unitree (4,200+ units shipped in 2025) or UBTECH (1,000+ units). Scaling production while maintaining quality will be critical for EIR's long-term competitiveness.
Brand recognition. Operating from Chengdu rather than China's traditional technology hubs (Shenzhen, Shanghai, Hangzhou), EIR must work harder to attract talent, customers, and investor attention. The Tencent Cloud partnership helps raise the company's profile, but building brand recognition in a crowded market remains an ongoing challenge.
Technical maturity. While the SkyWalker 2's specifications are competitive on paper, the platform is relatively new compared to robots from companies with longer development histories. Real-world reliability, software ecosystem maturity, and customer support infrastructure take time to develop.
Market timing. EIR enters the market at a time when humanoid robot prices are falling rapidly, with platforms like the Unitree R1 available for under $6,000. While the SkyWalker 2 targets different applications than low-cost research platforms, price pressure from the broader market could affect customer purchasing decisions.
EIR's roadmap includes continued development of the SkyWalker platform, commercialization of the AIQ emotional companion robot, expansion of the Lingtong quadruped product line, and exploration of brain-computer interface integration for embodied intelligence applications [4]. The company's partnership with Tencent Cloud positions it to leverage cloud computing for multi-robot coordination and over-the-air software updates, capabilities that could differentiate the platform as deployments scale.