ROTAKU
ROTAKU is a Silicon Valley humanoid robotics start-up, based in the San Francisco Bay Area and founded by Takuzen Lu, who studied computer science at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and spent years living in Japan. It builds Domo, a developer-focused humanoid platform for people working on motion control, teleoperation, manipulation and embodied AI who want real hardware instead of relying only on simulation. Domo comes in three versions: Domo Basic at US$2,999, Domo Developer at US$3,998, a compact model about 90 cm tall and 20 kg, and Domo Plus Developer at US$9,899, about 130 cm and 35 kg. ROTAKU opened reservations in May 2026, with a team of about ten people. It has early backing, including from MiraclePlus, and was preparing a further financing round. Lu says humanoid robotics should not be available only to large companies with big budgets, and Domo is designed for creators, researchers and students who want to test, learn and build.
💡Notable Achievement: ROTAKU opened reservations for its Domo developer humanoid in May 2026, from US$2,999 for Domo Basic.
What Does ROTAKU Do?
ROTAKU is a Silicon Valley start-up founded by Takuzen Lu that builds Domo, an affordable humanoid platform for developers.
“Real humanoid hardware for under US$3,000.”
Domo Range
Basic, Developer and Plus Developer models.
Low Price
From US$2,999 to US$9,899.
Builder Focus
For motion control, teleoperation and embodied AI.
What Can ROTAKU Robots Actually Do?
Cross-portfolio operational capabilities, manipulation tasks, and environmental competencies
Hardware for humanoid experimentation.
Teleoperation
Designed for teleoperation work.
Motion Control
Used to test motion control algorithms.
ROTAKU Robots
Showing 1 Humanoid Robots of 1 total model
Domo
Manufactured by ROTAKU
Domo is a compact, developer-focused humanoid robot engineered by ROTAKU for embodied AI research, locomotion policy training, and whole-body control experiments. Standing approximately 90 cm tall with a weight of 20 kg, it features 23 degrees of freedom and delivers 70 Nm of motor torque, enabling dynamic bipedal walking and manipulation tasks. The platform supports reinforcement learning, imitation learning, and sim-to-real workflows, with optional NVIDIA Jetson Orin NX compute, VR-based teleoperation, and dexterous hand attachments. Designed for labs, universities, and startups, Domo is not a consumer home robot but a scalable research platform for testing AI-driven physical behaviors in real-world environments.
ROTAKU Timeline & Milestones
Evolutionary history, landmark prototypes, major acquisitions, and commercial roadmap
Domo humanoid reservations open from $2,999
ROTAKU opens reservations for its Domo developer humanoid platform, starting at US$2,999.
Source: robotics247.com
ROTAKU Competitors by Category
Direct industry rivals grouped by specific robotics domain
What Makes ROTAKU Different?
Editorial AnalysisOrigin of Bots objective strategic assessment, engineering moats, and commercial hurdles
Key Strengths & Moats
- ✓Very low price.
- ✓Backed by MiraclePlus.
Core Strategic Focus
Delivering first Domo units.
Road Ahead & Challenges
- •Small team of about ten.
- •Shipping date not stated.
ROTAKU vs Key Competitors
Strategic capability matrix across platform categories, commercial readiness, and target markets
Height / Weight
- Domo (ROTAKU)
- 90 cm / 20 kg
- Booster T1 (Noetix)
- 110 cm / 25 kg
- Unitree G1
- 132 cm / 35 kg
- BRUCE (Westwood)
- 100 cm / 22 kg
Degrees of Freedom
- Domo (ROTAKU)
- 23 DoF
- Booster T1 (Noetix)
- 23 DoF
- Unitree G1
- 23–43 DoF
- BRUCE (Westwood)
- 16 DoF
Target Audience
- Domo (ROTAKU)
- Developers & Students
- Booster T1 (Noetix)
- Research Labs
- Unitree G1
- Commercial & Labs
- BRUCE (Westwood)
- Academic Labs
| Strategic Dimension | Domo (ROTAKU) | Booster T1 (Noetix) | Unitree G1 | BRUCE (Westwood) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Height / Weight | 90 cm / 20 kg | 110 cm / 25 kg | 132 cm / 35 kg | 100 cm / 22 kg |
| Degrees of Freedom | 23 DoF | 23 DoF | 23–43 DoF | 16 DoF |
| Target Audience | Developers & Students | Research Labs | Commercial & Labs | Academic Labs |
Corporate Ecosystem & Ownership Structure
Parent company relationships, historical acquisitions, and global operating facilities
Global Facilities & Operating Hubs
ROTAKU Headquarters
HQSan Francisco Bay Area, California, United States
Articles & Industry News
Showing 1 recent article and news updates about ROTAKU
Frequently Asked Questions
8 AnswersVerified answers, company specifications, and deployment details about ROTAKU
What is ROTAKU?
ROTAKU is a Silicon Valley start-up that builds Domo, an affordable developer-focused humanoid robot platform, with reservations opened in May 2026.
Who founded ROTAKU?
ROTAKU was founded by Takuzen Lu, also known as Zhuoran Lu, who studied computer science at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and spent years living in Japan.
What is the ROTAKU Domo?
Domo is a humanoid platform for developers working on motion control, teleoperation, manipulation and embodied AI, offered in Basic, Developer and Plus Developer versions.
How much does the Domo cost?
Domo Basic costs US$2,999, Domo Developer US$3,998 for a 90 cm, 20 kg model, and Domo Plus Developer US$9,899 for a 130 cm, 35 kg model.
Who is Domo for?
ROTAKU aims Domo at creators, students, researchers and start-up teams who want real humanoid hardware to experiment with rather than relying only on simulation.
Who has invested in ROTAKU?
ROTAKU has early-stage backing, including from MiraclePlus, founded by Lu Qi, and was preparing its next financing round. It has not disclosed the amounts.
How big is ROTAKU?
ROTAKU had a team of about ten people when it emerged from stealth with Domo in May 2026, based in the San Francisco Bay Area.
What sizes does the Domo come in?
Domo comes as a compact model about 90 cm tall and 20 kg, and a larger Plus Developer model about 130 cm tall and 35 kg.
Verified Data & Editorial Assurance
Compiled from verified corporate filings, official ROTAKU datasheets, and robotics engineering registries. Information has been verified against official manufacturer documentation. For commercial procurement or proprietary integrations, contact the manufacturer directly.