Kepler Robotics Showcases Humanoid Robot K2 "Bumblebee" at IROS 2025, Highlighting Advancements in Chinese Humanoid Robotics

The 2025 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS 2025) brought together leading robotics professionals from around the world to discuss the latest advancements in robotics technology. Kepler Robotics, a Shanghai-based company, introduced its humanoid robot K2 "Bumblebee" at the conference, demonstrating significant improvements in humanoid robotics technology. The presentation highlighted the growing presence of Chinese humanoid robotics on the global stage. The K2 "Bumblebee" showcased its capabilities, including fluid human-like motion, natural interaction with visitors, and precise manipulation, drawing consistent praise from attendees.

Key Takeaways:

• Kepler Robotics's K2 "Bumblebee" humanoid robot was showcased at IROS 2025, highlighting advancements in Chinese humanoid robotics technology.
• The K2 "Bumblebee" demonstrated fluid human-like motion, natural interaction, and precise manipulation, drawing praise from attendees.
• The robot's hybrid actuation system combines roller screw linear actuators, enabling a natural straight-knee walking gait, and integrates roller screw linear and rotary actuators.
• The K2 "Bumblebee" addressing the Sim-to-Real transfer challenge through reinforcement learning and GPU-accelerated physics simulation, and imitation learning with a high-fidelity physics simulator.
• Kepler Robotics introduced its developer platform, featuring tools for custom application development, including robotic arm control interfaces, motor APIs, and modules for vision, navigation, and voice.
• The platform is designed to support developers worldwide through four key components: Full-Stack Openness, an Integrated Perception-Decision-Control Toolbox, High-Fidelity Simulation & Digital Twin, and Modular Scene-Building Capability.
• The Kepler Robotics Developer Platform includes a built-in multimodal interaction engine, a physics-accurate virtual testing environment (digital twin), and graphical drag-and-drop tools (Kepler Studio), and a dedicated skill marketplace.

Statistics:

• Over 7,000 leading experts, researchers, and industry professionals attended IROS 2025.
• The K2 "Bumblebee" walked with fluid, human-like motion and responded naturally with gestures such as thumbs-up and wave.
• The K2 "Bumblebee" performed with poise while walking and completing its routine in the conference's robot parade.
• The Kepler Robotics Developer Platform provides a full-spectrum toolchain for developers, including intuitive visual interfaces to code-level control.
• The platform includes multi-layered security frameworks to ensure safe and reliable operation throughout development and deployment.

Sources:

• Shanghai Kepler Robot Co., Ltd.