SHENZHEN startup EngineAI is taking orders for its new T800 humanoid, named after the iconic synthetic human from the sci-fi franchise “The Terminator.” The company launched the heavyweight robot on JD.com, a popular Chinese e-commerce site. EngineAI is pitching the T800 as a full-scale labor replacement platform capable of handling industrial, commercial, and even public-service tasks, surpassing most adult human workers in both strength and endurance at about one-third of the cost. According to EngineAI, the T800 stands 173 cm tall — slightly shorter than the reported height of the prototype showcased during the 2025 World Robot Conference in Beijing. Weighing 75 kg, the robot features a magnesium-aluminum alloy exoskeleton, 29 degrees of freedom (DoF), and three-fingered hands with 7 DoF each. Its peak joint torque reaches 450 Nm for maneuvers like jump kicks and rapid load handling. The robot’s combat capabilities will be showcased next month during EngineAI’s planned humanoid robot boxing tournament in Shenzhen. The T800’s pricing starts at 180,000 yuan (US$25,000) for the basic configuration. EngineAI requires custom pricing for its other three configurations: an open-source ecosystem edition for researchers and developers, the Pro for higher-performance industrial use, and the ultimate flagship Max variant. The entry price is comparable to other full-sized humanoids that have hit the market this year, such as Dobot’s Atom (US$27,000), LimX Dynamics’ Oli (US$22,000), and Unitree’s H2 (US$29,900). The T800 is one of the first humanoids to run on a solid-state battery, which EngineAI says powers the robot for 4-5 hours per charge. These batteries replace the liquid electrolyte found in typical lithium-ion packs with solid material, offering better safety, higher energy density, and more charge cycles. The technology is still emerging, but industry analysts expect solid-state batteries to become the default choice for humanoids in the future. EngineAI rocked the robotics world when it emerged seemingly out of nowhere in the fall of 2024 with its first full-sized humanoid, the SE01, and its remarkably lifelike walking gait. Zhao Tongyang, who previously founded the Shenzhen startup Dogotix, launched the robotics firm in 2023 after leaving XPeng, where he led the Guangzhou-based EV maker’s humanoid program. The startup also offers a compact humanoid, the PM01, initially priced under US$15,000 to undercut Unitree’s G1. With the PM01, EngineAI gained exposure far outside the usual tech circles, going viral with a dancing homage to the 2004 cult classic “Kung Fu Hustle” and an encounter with popular streamer IShowSpeed. EngineAI is scaling production of its suite of humanoids and quadrupeds after securing nearly US$140 million in funding earlier this year. Its lead investor is JD.com. Through the partnership, EngineAI and JD have launched a cyberpunk-themed flagship store under the JD Home umbrella in Upperhills, Futian District, where five humanoids are part of the retail crew. (SD-Agencies) | 