UBTECH's U1 female robot has a highly realistic bionic silicone skin. This bionic material not only feels close to that of a real person, but can also microscopically replicate details such as pores, blood vessels, and fingerprints, and can maintain a constant surface temperature of 37 degrees Celsius.
UBTECH’s UWORLD U1 hyper-real humanoid companion robots officially launched today.
1:1 male/female forms with 88 bionic joints, local encrypted emotional AI, priced ¥119,800 ($17,600) – ¥990,000 ($145,400).
Pre-orders smashed 11k units already — 10x last year’s full humanoid sales volume. Ships mid-September.
Built purely for emotional connection, not household chores.
UBTECH says the first-generation bionic robots are built around “emotional value,” mainly for single users and seniors over 60 who need companionship and care.
The goal is more natural human-robot interaction, emotional companionship, and basic life assistance.
They also showed more than 50 full-size hyper-realistic humanoid designs, with different male and female looks, body types, and heights from 1.60 m to 1.85 m.
That’s the bigger signal here: humanoid robots are starting to move from one standard body into personalized consumer products.
U1 is already open for pre-order on JD, with more than 13,361 orders so far.
UBTECH says it will push mass production and delivery, aiming to complete those 10,000+ orders this year.
Consumer humanoid robots just entered a real market test.
▲ |1| Works exhibited at the National Drawing Festival (1). 庆祝“光明星”节全国素描庆典上展出的作品（1）. 发表于： 16th February 2016 https://archive.vn/iqGX6
▲ |2| Completion of Pyongyang Children's Traffic Park, 3rd July 2017. 평양시어린이교통공원 준공, 주체106(2017)년 7월 3일 《우리 민족끼리》
▲ |3| The Japanese aeroballistic trajectory stage Epsilon.
▲ |4| Hybrid liquid-solid propellant SLV posted on the internet in 2013.
▲ |5| First suborbital test-launch of the Zoljanah SLV.
▲ |6| June 20,2026 Central Television 8:00PM News, report about the Sinuiju Bag Factory.
▲ |7| Close-up of the hybrid liquid-solid propellant SLV on a backpack.
▲ |8| Israeli Shavit family SLVs and Iranian Zoljanah SLV.
Forumancy is the science of finding clues pertaining to the Matrix through the study of internet content, including state news agencies, social media, forum and BBS.
Forumancy is a powerful tool developed for OSINT research purpose along the sciences of nomenmancy, videomancy, etc.
As it is often the case with the DPRK (North Korea), hints are leaked into the media on the occasion of casual reports. Elementary school visits, children's exhibitions, or even youth artistic performances are typical events where serious OSINT research can be started for fishing hints.
In the following case, in a picture posted 16th February 2016 on the DPRKTODAY website, and titled 'Works exhibited at the National Drawing Festival (1). 庆祝“光明星”节全国素描庆典上展出的作品（1）' of a pencil drawing, a first look is given at a new type of unseen before space launcher.
Then by 3rd July 2017, a colored version photography confirmed the civilian paint of the launcher in a report about the 'Completion of Pyongyang Children's Traffic Park. 평양시어린이교통공원 준공, 주체106(2017)년 7월 3일 《우리 민족끼리》'.
By Christmas of that year, foreign press would report the existence of a new-type space launcher using a TEL.
>[Exclusive] North Korea’s new satellite, plan to launch from a mobile launcher soon
>[JoongAng Ilbo] 2017.12.26 02:30 Modified 2017.12.26
>A government official said on 25th December 2017 that the military and intelligence authorities obtained information that North Korea had planned to launch an artificial satellite in the near future, and went into intensive surveillance. The official said, “I know that North Korea made a new satellite and named it "Kwangmyongsong-5 Plan”.
>He added, “Up to now, North Korea has launched satellites four times under the right of “peaceful use of space”.
>North Korea referred to “space development” three times in the newspapers this month only, insisting that “peaceful space development is a legitimate right of sovereign states” in the Rodong Sinmun newspaper on the 25th.
>Lee Chun-geun, a senior research fellow at the Institute for Science and Technology Policy, said, "If you load a long-range rocket with a warhead instead of a satellite that makes a re-entry it into the atmosphere, it is a long-range missile." The intelligence authorities believe that North Korea is also considering using a mobile launch pad (TEL) instead of launching a satellite from Tongchang-ri. Commissioner Lee Chun-geun said, "There are very few instances of shooting satellites from mobile launchers," he said. In its July 2006 resolution (No. 1675), the UN Security Council banned the launch of satellites, such as the use of launch vehicles that applied North Korean ballistic missile technology.
Specs
• The 1st and 2nd stages are similar in diameter (1.5m), but larger than the 3rd stage.
• Fins are located on the 2nd stage, unlike Sejil-2 MRBM
• The North Korean launcher was revealed earlier than Iran's, as Iran's Aerospace Industries Organisation (AIO) didn't test 1.5 meter diameter solid motors at that time, unlike North Korea. (There was an old gigantic mosaic on a North Korean school's external wall, but the photo was not located on FLICKR nor Vkontacte anymore)
Finally, the concept of fins put on the 2nd stage was also presented on 1st of April 2018 in Japan (as a prank), with the 2.5 meter diameter solid propellant Epsilon, suggesting the possibility of a similar aeroballistic trajectory stage.
How do we know it was first conceived in Iran then?
Because the first image of a fantasized hybrid propellant SLV was probably posted on another space forum back on 15th November 2013 at 06:23 pm by the user Soheil, without anyone noticing it in the lineup among other space launchers!
In fact it was a hybrid propellant SLV, but based on a Sejil-2 MRBM missile, with a third stage made of the Safir-1 SLV.
This means all diameters are 1.25 meters.
Notice the fins can only be seen only on the first stage.
After more than 7 years, since the first hint leaked intentionally by Soheil, the first ever official image of the Zoljanah SLV was published on 1st February 2021.
>Iran launches satellite carrier with solid fuel engine
>Feb 1, 2021, 8:57 PM
>TEHRAN, Feb. 01 (MNA) – Iran has successfully launched the Zol-Jannah combined satellite carrier which is equipped with the most powerful solid-fuel engine in the country.
>The spokesman of the space division of the Ministry of Defense said on Monday that Iran has launched the Zol-Jannah three-staged satellite carrier which is equipped with a solid-fuel engine.
>He went on to say that the satellite carrier has two stages of solid propulsion and one stage with liquid propulsion, adding that it is capable of carrying satellites weighing up to 220 kg in a 500 km orbit.
>The spokesperson underlined that the satellite carrier is equipped with the most powerful solid-fuel engine in the country with a thrust of more than 75 tons which is one of the most important achievements of this space experiment.
>According to Hosseini, the satellite carrier can be used on moving platforms and is designed to reduce costs, noting that it will be able to put operational satellites in orbit after research tests are conducted.
>FA/ 5136684
Iran is obviously further ahead in the solid fuel game as expected. With 2 meters diameter solid propellant motors with composite casing paraded recently in North Korea...
Since Iran successfully tested a 1.5m diameter motor more than five years ago, it's quite likely they are already progressing on the next steps.
And AIO spokesman Hosseini already gave it to us in the TV program "Conversation about satellite on Zoljanah" aired on Monday 1st February 2021 (گفتگو درباره ی ماهواره بر ذوالجناح).
He said that the Zoljanah would be improved and this would include lighter casings, higher specific impulse and flexible nozzles.
Could the first flight test of this upgraded 2-meter diameter plus hybrid-propellant 'Zoljanah-2' SLV be conducted from North Korea?
A recent video dated 26th June 2026 of the Sinuiju Bag Factory briefly shows that the North Korean hybrid-propellant space launcher still figures on backpacks, suggesting the program is still active.
EX Robot's anthropomorphic heads integrated on (nearly) static bodies. Ex Robots is a Chinese technology company based in Dalian.
Noetix Xiao Yue is an advanced, highly realistic biomimetic robot head and desktop companion developed by the Chinese startup Noetix Robotics. It is designed to bridge the gap between machine and human companion, acting as an interactive assistant for extended solitary or remote work sessions.
The Volcano Engine FORCE Conference 2026 (火山引擎2026 FORCE原动力大会) was a major technology summit held in Beijing by ByteDance's cloud computing and AI division, Volcano Engine. It focused on the latest "Doubao" AI models, Agent-based cloud services, and new multi-modal generation technologies.
2000 TOPS with Nvidia Thor. Cheaper than Unitree G1.
The Direct Drive Tech D1 is a fully modular, convertible robot designed by Hong Kong-based robotics startup Direct Drive Technology. Billed as the world's first fully modular robot with embodied intelligence, the D1 stands out because it can reconfigure its physical form autonomously based on the terrain.
The "Centipede Mode" of the Direct Drive Tech D1 refers to the robot's ability to chain three or more biped units together in a straight line. While the standard configuration merges two units into a four-legged quadruped, the system's modular design allows it to scale further.
Key Features of Centipede Mode
Primary Use Cases
https://reddit.com/link/1u7le1t/video/yefz2u90ro7h1/player
The Chinese embodied AI and humanoid robotics startup Galaxea AI (also known as Galaxea Dynamics) has secured a massive $290 million+ Series B+ funding round, boosting its reported valuation to $29 billion. This capital injection further positions the Tsinghua and Stanford-backed startup as a heavyweight contender in the global robotics arms race.
Kengo is an advanced bipedal humanoid robot developed by Galaxea Dynamics. Designed for industrial, commercial, and domestic use, Kengo stands out for its elite dynamic agility, high-torque joints, and its ability to handle complex low-posture work.
https://reddit.com/link/1u6r89n/video/1i4arp352i7h1/player
Kepler released Qilin, a heavy-duty quadruped robot designed for industrial transport and demanding outdoor operations.
Industrial Design: Described as an "industrial mule" or "robot warhorse" rather than a typical robot dog, built explicitly to carry heavy payloads.
Ton-Class Capacity: Features a massive carrying capacity capable of transporting heavy equipment and materials across rugged terrain where wheeled vehicles cannot travel.
8+ Hour Endurance: Engineered with a full-load battery endurance exceeding 8 hours, meeting strict industrial shift requirements.
Dual-Form Versatility: Hybrid Wheel-Legged Locomotion
Qilin can also work alongside Kepler’s K2 Bumblebee humanoid, combining the quadruped’s stability and carrying capacity with the humanoid’s ability to handle tools and human-designed environments.
Humanoid robot athlete not only focuses on speed, but also hones balance and athletic ability throughout the entire body for skills such as soccer juggling and sprinting.
| This image displays the conceptual design specifications for a South Korean manned orbital capsule. Dimensions: The capsule features a base diameter of 4.2 m, a height of 2.95 m, and a cone angle of 13°. Mass: The total mass is approximately 6.0 tons, composed of 5.5 tons for the capsule itself, 250 kg of propellant, and other miscellaneous components. Heat Shield System: It uses a PICA (Phenolic Impregnated Carbon Ablator) system, which is a high-grade material designed to withstand intense heat, with a weight of approximately 200 kg. Propulsion System: The capsule is equipped with a propulsion system generating a total thrust of 5 kN and a specific impulse of 300 seconds. |
|---|
South Korea has recently officially started basic research to design and build its very first domestic, manned orbital spacecraft. This development was unveiled in May 2026 at a domestic aerospace symposium, marking the country's initial conceptual blueprint for an independent human spaceflight program.
The active roadmap consists of two phased development stages:
Phase 1: Suborbital Testing with Nuri
Phase 2: Next-Generation Orbital Crew Capsule
Strategic & Political Context
The framework stems from the updated 4th Basic Plan for Promotion of Space Development, where the government expanded its "space transport" goals to include independent human transportation capabilities. If finalized, funded, and successfully executed, South Korea would become the only 6th power in the world to field an independent manned orbital spacecraft.
2026.05.22(Fri) 08:56:06
EngineAI’s URKL (Ultimate Robot Knockout Legend) is the world's first professional, commercial freestyle combat league for full-sized humanoid robots. Hosted by Shenzhen-based EngineAI, the league pits 16 global teams against one another using fully autonomous, standardized humanoid robots.
Humanoid-GPT demonstrates robust zero-shot whole-body control across real-world tasks, from physical labor to sports and security.
Android boyfriend/girlfriend and even wives have figured preeminently both in Hollywood and Hallyuwood movies and also video games since the end of the Cold War era.
This was intended to pave the way for the younger generation, and today it is finally something you can actually put in your cart.
UBTECH's UWORLD full-size bionic humanoid is up for presale on JD. Whole pitch is 'emotional companionship.'
3'000 RMB deposit (approximately 14'585 THB) gets you first-batch access. Launch is 30th June 2026, presale runs until 15th July 2026.
UBTECH Robotics announced they have received 1000+ units of pre-order within 3 days.
Final price to be announced end of June.
The U1 series androids come in two genders:
Both have 88 DOF, Wi-Fi, charging, and 2–4 hours of runtime.
It’s not programmable and does not support secondary development.
So no hacking it for fun, apparently.
https://reddit.com/link/1tnacgu/video/9zf53rh1ka3h1/player
Flamethrower quadruped robot sighted at the China Israel Changzhou Innovation Park (CICP).
https://reddit.com/link/1tmbz9w/video/r7cy2prj533h1/player
This hyper-realistic biomimetic desktop robot sold for RMB 110'790, about USD 15'400, on JD Auctions.
It is Xiaoyue from the Chinese startup Noetix Robotics, official model X-Head 1.
The auction started at RMB 1, about USD 0.14, took 49 bids, and drew nearly 40'000 viewers.
X-Head 1 has a weight of 7.5 [kg] and uses a biomimetic head structure with 24 degrees of freedom.
Its interaction stack covers gaze, lip movement, facial emotion, speech output, skill library, and LLM-based voice dialogue.
The listed use cases include home companionship, front-desk reception, exhibition guidance, secondary development, device control, and simple office tasks.
This is embodied AI edge moving at warp speed.
https://reddit.com/link/1tmbnap/video/vb4gvue3333h1/player
Developed by the Shanghai-based robotics startup MirrorMe Technology, Bolt is a full-size humanoid robot recognized as the world's fastest. Standing 177 [cm] tall and a mass of 75 [kg], it can reach blistering sprint speeds of 10 [m/s] in outdoor tests and up to 11 [m/s] indoors.
Bolt shifts the humanoid robotics paradigm away from slow-walking and endurance. Instead of focusing solely on walking stability or long-distance marches like those seen in recent robotic marathons, MirrorMe designed Bolt strictly for explosive, raw athletic speed and agility.
Shot in real-time at 1.0× speed, Booster Robotics’ upcoming robot kicked hard enough to max out the speed meter — and the ball actually broke.