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| SIASUN Songxing | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Manufacturer | SIASUN Robot & Automation |
| Type | Bipedal humanoid robot |
| Country of origin | China |
| Year introduced | 2025 |
| Status | Limited production |
| Price | ~$140,000 USD |
| Headquarters | Shenyang, China |
| Website | en.siasun.com |
Songxing (Chinese: 松行, literally "Pine Walk") is a bipedal humanoid robot developed by SIASUN Robot & Automation Co., Ltd., one of China's largest and most established robotics companies. Publicly unveiled at the 2025 World Robot Conference in Beijing, Songxing represents SIASUN's entry into the full-size bipedal humanoid segment. The robot features an advanced bionic structure, independently developed core components and control systems, and a layered intelligent architecture that combines reinforcement learning, imitation learning, and large language model integration for multimodal perception and natural language interaction.[1][2]
Songxing is designed for applications spanning industrial manufacturing, social services, and family companionship. It stands alongside SIASUN's other embodied intelligence platforms, including the Songyi wheeled humanoid, the RICO wheeled humanoid, and the SIASUN Intelligent Humanoid Dual-Arm Platform, as part of a broader strategy to extend the company's decades of industrial automation expertise into the emerging field of general-purpose embodied intelligence.[1][3]
SIASUN Robot & Automation Co., Ltd. was founded on April 30, 2000, by Qu Daokui in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China. The company emerged as a spin-off from the Shenyang Institute of Automation (SIA), a research institution under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) that was established in 1958 and had pioneered early robotics prototypes in China since the 1980s. Qu Daokui, a researcher at SIA, was inspired by a 1992 visit to a Volkswagen plant in Wolfsburg, Germany, where he observed an assembly line staffed by hundreds of industrial robots. At the time, few Chinese laboratories had robots even for research purposes. Eight years later, Qu assembled a team of researchers and founded SIASUN with the goal of becoming a pioneer in Chinese robotics.[4][5]
The Shenyang Institute of Automation remains the majority stakeholder in SIASUN, holding approximately 39.75% of shares. SIASUN went public on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange ChiNext board on October 30, 2009, under stock ticker 300024. The company has grown to become one of the largest robotics manufacturers in China, with over 4,500 employees and industrial parks in Shenyang, Shanghai, Qingdao, Tianjin, Wuxi, and other Chinese cities. SIASUN also maintains international subsidiaries in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Germany, Japan, the United States, and Mexico.[4][6][7]
For the full year ended December 31, 2024, SIASUN reported revenue of CNY 4.13 billion (approximately $570 million USD). The company has shipped products to over 40 countries and regions, serving more than 4,000 enterprises globally, including BMW, Nissan, Ford, General Motors, and SanDisk. In 2017, SIASUN became the first China-based member of the Robotic Industries Association, a United States trade group focused on the industrial robot industry. SIASUN serves as the National Engineering Research Center for Robotics in China and has written over 100 "industry firsts" in the history of Chinese robot development.[4][7][8]
Beyond the Songxing humanoid, SIASUN produces a broad range of automation products:
| Product category | Description |
|---|---|
| Industrial robots | Six-axis articulated arms (SR6C, SR10C, SR20A, SR360A series) for welding, assembly, and material handling |
| SCARA robots | High-speed pick-and-place systems for electronics and precision assembly |
| Collaborative robots | DUCO GCR and SCR series cobots (3 kg to 30 kg payload) |
| Automated guided vehicles (AGV) | Industrial transport platforms for intralogistics |
| Autonomous mobile robots (AMR) | iMRS 2.0 intelligent mobile platform |
| Special robots | Robots for hazardous environments, underwater operations, and defense applications |
| Embodied intelligent robots | Songxing, Songyi, RICO humanoid platforms |
| Digital factory solutions | End-to-end automation for welding, assembly, and logistics |
SIASUN serves industries including automotive (welding cells, powertrain handling), electronics (SCARA pick-and-place), new energy (battery module assembly, EV supply chain logistics), and semiconductor manufacturing.[7][8]
SIASUN formally established an Embodied Intelligence Research Institute as part of its strategic push into humanoid robotics. This internal research division is responsible for developing the underlying control systems, bionic mechanical structures, and intelligent perception frameworks that underpin the Songxing and other embodied intelligence platforms. The formation of a dedicated research institute reflects SIASUN's recognition that humanoid robotics represents a distinct discipline from traditional industrial automation, requiring specialized expertise in bipedal locomotion, whole-body coordination, and human-robot interaction.[2][3]
The decision to enter the humanoid robot field builds on SIASUN's existing capabilities in several adjacent domains. The company's DUCO collaborative robot line, which includes six-axis and seven-axis cobots, provided foundational experience in compliant control, force sensing, and safe human-robot collaboration. SIASUN's mobile robot division contributed expertise in autonomous navigation, obstacle avoidance, and multi-sensor fusion. The Songxing synthesizes these competencies into a single bipedal platform.[3][9]
Songxing was publicly unveiled at the 2025 World Robot Conference (WRC), held from August 8 to 12, 2025, at the Beijing Beiren Yichuang International Convention and Exhibition Center. The conference theme was "Making robots smarter and bodies more intelligent," and the exhibition focused on cutting-edge technological innovation and the expansion of robot application scenarios.[1]
At the WRC, SIASUN organized its exhibition space into four themed areas: an embodied intelligence zone, a high-end intelligent manufacturing zone, an intelligent cleaning zone, and a special robot zone. The Songxing was displayed in the embodied intelligence area alongside the Songyi wheeled humanoid, the RICO wheeled humanoid, the SIASUN Intelligent Humanoid Dual-Arm Platform, and the SIASUN DUCO coffee-serving robot. SIASUN and AYWA, a partner company, jointly held an "Embodied Intelligent Technology Joint Launch Conference" at the SIASUN booth during the event.[1][10]
On September 11, 2025, SIASUN disclosed the Songxing, Songyi, and Intelligent Humanoid Dual-Arm Platform through China's investor interaction platform, confirming these as formal product releases rather than research prototypes. The company stated that it would "continue developing technology in this frontier field, committed to breaking through the limitations of robot application scenarios."[2]
Songxing employs what SIASUN describes as an "advanced bionic structure" designed to replicate human body proportions and joint kinematics. The robot's frame is constructed from aluminum alloy and composite materials, balancing structural rigidity with low weight. The design prioritizes compatibility with human work environments, meaning the robot's height, reach envelope, and body dimensions are calibrated so that it can operate in spaces designed for people, including doorways, corridors, workstations, and assembly lines.[1][11]
The robot has a total of 38 degrees of freedom (DOF), distributed across the legs, torso, arms, and hands. Each hand provides 10 DOF with five anthropomorphic fingers, enabling the robot to grasp, hold, and manipulate objects of various shapes and sizes. The arm system is designed for leading repeatability in positioning accuracy, supporting precise pick-and-place, storage, and transport tasks.[1][11]
Songxing uses electric servo motors as its primary actuators, paired with harmonic and planetary gear reduction systems. This combination delivers the torque density and backdrivability required for both bipedal walking and dexterous manipulation. Core components, including the joint modules and motor controllers, are independently designed and manufactured by SIASUN, reducing reliance on third-party suppliers and enabling tighter integration between the mechanical and control systems.[1][11]
The use of proprietary actuators represents a significant investment for SIASUN. In the broader Chinese humanoid robot industry, access to high-performance joint actuators has been a bottleneck, with many startups depending on external suppliers. SIASUN's vertical integration of actuator development gives the company greater control over performance tuning and supply chain stability.[3]
Songxing achieves bipedal locomotion through a combination of reinforcement learning and imitation learning techniques. These machine learning algorithms control the collaborative motion of motors in the arms, waist, and feet, enabling anthropomorphic movement of bionic joints. The control system coordinates the robot's upper and lower body during walking, allowing the arms to swing naturally while the legs execute stable gait patterns.[1]
The maximum walking speed is reported at 0.83 m/s (approximately 3.0 km/h or 1.9 mph). While this is slower than the walking speeds achieved by some competitor platforms, SIASUN has emphasized stability, predictability, and balanced motion over dynamic agility. The company's approach prioritizes reliable locomotion in structured industrial and service environments rather than athletic performance in unstructured outdoor terrain.[11]
The top-level intelligent system integrates multimodal perception capabilities powered by large language models and deep learning models. This system enables:
The robot runs on a Linux-based operating system with ROS (Robot Operating System) compatibility, providing a standardized software framework for sensor integration, motion planning, and third-party application development. Network connectivity is provided through Ethernet and WiFi interfaces.[11]
| Category | Parameter | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Physical | Height | 165 cm |
| Physical | Weight | 85 kg |
| Physical | Material | Aluminum alloy + composites |
| Physical | IP rating | IP54 (dust and splash protected) |
| Mobility | Total degrees of freedom | 38 |
| Mobility | Hand DOF | 10 per hand |
| Mobility | Fingers per hand | 5 |
| Mobility | Maximum walking speed | 0.83 m/s (3.0 km/h) |
| Manipulation | Arm payload capacity | 6.5 kg |
| Power | Battery life | ~3 hours |
| Actuators | Type | Electric servo motors |
| Actuators | Gear technology | Harmonic / Planetary |
| Computing | Operating system | Linux / ROS |
| Computing | LLM integration | Yes |
| Connectivity | Interfaces | Ethernet, WiFi |
| Connectivity | ROS compatible | Yes |
SIASUN's approach to humanoid robotics differs from many competitors in the Chinese market. Rather than emphasizing flashy demonstrations of dynamic locomotion or athletic feats, SIASUN has stated that it is "more focused on practical application" of humanoid technology. The company's technology leadership has described the development philosophy as evolutionary rather than revolutionary: building on the foundation of SIASUN's proven composite robots (mobile bases combined with robotic arms) that already operate commercially in factories and warehouses.[3]
This philosophy reflects a pragmatic assessment that full bipedal humanoids are not yet cost-effective replacements for existing automation in most factory scenarios. SIASUN positions the Songxing as a platform for developing and validating algorithms for bipedal locomotion, whole-body coordination, and human-robot collaboration, while its wheeled platforms (Songyi, RICO) and mobile cobots address near-term commercial demand.[3][9]
SIASUN's scale, with over CNY 4 billion in annual revenue and more than 4,500 employees, provides resources for sustained investment in humanoid robotics that many smaller startups cannot match. The company's existing relationships with over 4,000 enterprise customers create deployment channels for humanoid products once the technology matures. Unlike pure-play humanoid startups that must simultaneously develop the robot, build a customer base, and establish manufacturing capacity, SIASUN can leverage its existing manufacturing infrastructure, supply chain, and sales network.[4][7]
SIASUN's industrial robot manufacturing expertise also provides advantages in mechanical design, quality control, and reliability engineering. The company has manufactured tens of thousands of industrial robot arms, accumulating deep knowledge of joint design, gear systems, motor control, and long-duration operation that translates directly to humanoid robot development.[7][8]
The DUCO collaborative robot brand, officially established in 2014 as SIASUN's dedicated cobot subsidiary based in Shanghai, represents the company's closest product line to the Songxing in terms of underlying technology. DUCO cobots feature force-and-torque sensing, collision detection, compliant control, and intuitive programming interfaces, all of which are relevant to humanoid robot manipulation and safe human-robot interaction.[9]
Several specific DUCO technologies have informed the Songxing's design:
| DUCO technology | Application to Songxing |
|---|---|
| Six-axis and seven-axis joint control | Multi-DOF arm and hand control algorithms |
| Compliant force control | Safe human-robot interaction in shared spaces |
| Drag-and-drop programming | Intuitive task teaching and demonstration learning |
| IP54/IP65 environmental protection | Industrial-grade environmental sealing (IP54) |
| TUV-certified safety architecture | Safety protocols for human proximity operation |
| Explosion-proof design experience | Hazardous environment adaptability |
The DUCO GCR series cobots achieve repeatability as fine as +/-0.02 mm, while the SIASUN Intelligent Humanoid Dual-Arm Platform achieves +/-0.05 mm. These precision benchmarks inform the manipulation accuracy targets for Songxing's anthropomorphic arms.[9][12]
While DUCO cobots are fixed-base or mounted on mobile platforms, the Songxing adds bipedal locomotion and full-body coordination. In SIASUN's product strategy, DUCO addresses the near-term market for safe, flexible automation that can be deployed rapidly alongside human workers, while Songxing represents the longer-term vision of a general-purpose humanoid that can navigate, manipulate, and interact across diverse environments.[9]
Songxing is one of several embodied intelligence platforms that SIASUN introduced as a coordinated product family. Each platform addresses different mobility requirements and application scenarios:
The Songyi (Chinese: 松羿) is a wheeled humanoid robot that integrates mobile robot technology, artificial intelligence algorithms, and a high-performance dual-arm robot system. Built on SIASUN's mature wheeled mobile platform, Songyi offers excellent maneuverability and is designed for warehousing and logistics, retail, and home service scenarios. Its dual-arm system enables multi-task parallel execution, capable of efficiently grasping, handling, sorting, and stacking objects at different heights. The wheeled base provides faster, more energy-efficient movement than bipedal locomotion, making Songyi better suited for tasks that require covering large distances within structured environments such as warehouses and retail floors.[1]
The RICO (Chinese: 睿可) is a wheeled humanoid equipped with autonomous positioning, dynamic obstacle avoidance, and multi-object recognition capabilities. It is designed for handling, picking, and inspection tasks in warehouses, campuses, and exhibition spaces. RICO features a compliant dual-arm control system with flexible motion capabilities suitable for fine manipulation tasks, and it maintains high safety standards during contact with people. The platform supports multi-point patrol planning for autonomous operation across large facilities.[1]
This platform features independently developed robot body and control systems with a repeatable positioning accuracy of +/-0.05 mm. Its hollow bow-shaped arm design allows flexible customization for various industrial and service scenarios, enabling complex and precise operations including autonomous grasping and storage of diverse objects. The dual-arm platform serves as a modular base that can be mounted on different mobility systems depending on the application.[1]
Demonstrated at the 2025 WRC, this compact system occupies just 2.1 square meters of floor space and offers over 20 beverage options with customizable sweetness and temperature settings. It can prepare drinks in approximately 90 seconds with 20% higher output efficiency than traditional manual preparation, and its operating costs are reported to be only 20% of those of a traditional cafe. The system operates autonomously around the clock.[10]
SIASUN has identified three primary application domains for the Songxing:
In factory settings, Songxing is positioned for tasks that require human-like dexterity and mobility in environments not easily served by fixed automation. Potential applications include material handling between workstations, quality inspection in confined spaces, assembly operations requiring two-handed coordination, and equipment monitoring tasks that involve navigating between machines. SIASUN's existing customer base in automotive, electronics, and new energy manufacturing provides natural pilot deployment opportunities.[1][3]
Songxing's natural language interaction capabilities and multimodal perception make it suitable for public-facing service roles. Target scenarios include reception and guidance at corporate campuses, hospitals, and exhibition venues; facility inspection and monitoring; and delivery of items within large buildings or complexes.[1][3]
SIASUN envisions longer-term applications in home environments, where the Songxing could assist with daily tasks, provide companionship for elderly individuals, and serve as an interactive household assistant. This application domain remains more aspirational and is contingent on further reductions in cost, size, and weight, as well as advances in the robot's autonomous decision-making and safety systems.[1][3]
Songxing enters a rapidly expanding market for humanoid robots in China. The Chinese government's "Humanoid Robot Innovation and Development Guidelines," published in late 2023, set targets for initial mass production of humanoid robots by 2025, accelerating investment across the industry. By 2025, China hosted more than 150 humanoid robot companies, with the sector expanding at an annual rate exceeding 50%.[13][14]
Key competitors in the Chinese bipedal humanoid space include:
| Company | Robot | Notable features |
|---|---|---|
| UBTECH | Walker S2 | First to begin mass production for automotive assembly lines |
| Unitree | H1 / H2 | Low-cost platforms with athletic locomotion capabilities |
| Fourier Intelligence | GR-2 | Rehabilitation and general-purpose research platform |
| EngineAI | SE01 | Viral walking demonstration praised by NVIDIA scientists |
| Agibot | A2 | Backed by Shanghai AI Lab |
| XPeng Robotics | Iron | Automotive industry backing from XPeng Motors |
SIASUN differentiates itself through its established industrial customer base, vertically integrated manufacturing capabilities, and decades of experience in deploying robots in real factory environments. While many humanoid startups are still seeking their first commercial deployments, SIASUN can leverage relationships with over 4,000 enterprise clients. The company's pragmatic, application-first approach prioritizes solving specific industrial pain points over demonstrating cutting-edge athletic performance.[3][7][13]
Globally, the humanoid robot market includes major players such as Tesla (Optimus), Boston Dynamics (Atlas), Figure AI (Figure 02), and Apptronik (Apollo). China's humanoid robot firms made up roughly half of exhibitors at CES 2026, reflecting the country's rapid growth in this field.[14][15]
As of early 2026, SIASUN describes its humanoid robot activities as "technical reserves and application scenario exploration" rather than large-scale commercial deployment. The company is conducting pilot programs and demonstrations across manufacturing, logistics, and service environments while continuing to refine the platform's locomotion, manipulation, and perception capabilities.[3]
SIASUN has indicated that it views humanoid robots as complementary to, rather than replacements for, its existing product lines. AGVs, AMRs, industrial arms, and DUCO cobots will continue to serve applications where they are more cost-effective and reliable. Humanoid robots like Songxing will target scenarios where human-like form, dexterity, and mobility provide distinct advantages that existing automation cannot address.[3]
The broader Chinese humanoid robot industry is expected to reach a market scale of 75 billion yuan (approximately $10 billion USD) by 2029, representing 32.7% of the global market. Industry analysts estimate that humanoid robot productivity currently reaches approximately 30 to 40 percent of a human worker's output, with expectations to reach about 80 percent by early 2027. SIASUN's combination of financial resources, manufacturing scale, and industrial customer relationships positions it to participate meaningfully in this growing market as the technology matures toward commercial viability.[13][14]