KAIST Humanoid v0.9
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KAIST Humanoid v0.9 is the latest full-size bipedal humanoid research robot from the Dynamic Robot Control & Design Laboratory (DRCD Lab) at KAIST in Daejeon, South Korea, led by Professor Hae-Won Park. The team designs nearly everything in-house, from the custom quasi-direct-drive actuators and planetary gearboxes to the motor drivers. Version 0.9 adds arms built with the university's RAILAB and whole-body manipulation to the walking and running skills of its predecessor, v0.7, which KAIST revealed in March 2026. In a demonstration video released on October 19, 2026, the robot walked around an athletics track pushing blocks of up to 35 kg and lifting blocks of up to 20 kg while using onboard vision, without external cameras, to assemble the letters K, A, I, S and T into the name of the university. The skills were learned with deep reinforcement learning and human demonstrations. Reports describe it as roughly 165 cm tall and 75 kg, but KAIST has not published a full specification sheet; it is a lab research platform, not a commercial product.
Quick Overview & Key Facts
KAIST Humanoid v0.9 is a humanoid robot made by KAIST in South Korea, launched in 2026 and built for humanoid locomotion and whole-body manipulation research. Its estimated price is USD 150,000.
- Dimensions
- Height about 165 cm (5 ft 5 in)
- Weight
- About 75 kg (165 lb)
- Mobility
- Bipedal (legged) humanoid
- Payload capacity
- Pushes loads up to 35 kg and lifts loads up to 20 kg in demonstrations (not a rated payload)
- Sensors
- Onboard vision for manipulation; proprioceptive sensing for walking without cameras
- Operating environment
- Research laboratory and outdoor test track
What Can KAIST Humanoid v0.9 Do?
Core operational tasks and activities demonstrated or performed by KAIST Humanoid v0.9.
Real-World Applications of KAIST Humanoid v0.9
Industries, working environments, and deployment suitability for KAIST Humanoid v0.9.
KAIST Humanoid v0.9 Capabilities
Inherent physical, perceptual, and cognitive abilities built into KAIST Humanoid v0.9.
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Robot Specifications
Values without a Confirmed badge are compiled from public sources and may not be manufacturer-verified.
Not yet published by KAIST: warranty terms, safety certifications, EMC compliance, IP rating, noise level, expected lifespan, maintenance schedule, firmware version and 6 more.
Robot Timeline
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KAIST's DRCD Lab releases a demonstration of Humanoid v0.9 doing whole-body locomanipulation, pushing up to 35 kg and lifting up to 20 kg while building the letters K-A-I-S-T.
Source: KAIST DRCD Lab (YouTube) ↗
KAIST Humanoid v0.9 vs Bolt, Vesoma 1, Phantom MK1 and Motion 2
KAIST Humanoid v0.9 overlaps with these alternatives on Education and training and Research and development. KAIST Humanoid v0.9 leads this group on weight.
Industries and capabilities are tags, not scores: a tick means the robot is listed for it. Green marks the best figure in a row (lowest weight). Ranges are not ranked.
| Spec | KAIST Humanoid v0.9KAIST | BoltMirrorMe Technology | Vesoma 1Vesoma | Phantom MK1Foundation | Motion 2VinMotion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industries | |||||
| Education and training | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Research and development | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Capabilities | |||||
| Object manipulation | Yes | No | No | No | Yes |
| Perception | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Stair climbing | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Balance and stability | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 75 kg | 75 kg | 75 kg | 80 kg | 75 kg |
| Released | 2026 | 2026 | 2026 | 2025 | 2026 |
Notes such as conditions or alternate figures are left out and values are shown in common units; open each page for the full specs. Browse all Humanoid Robots
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Q1. What is KAIST Humanoid v0.9, and what problem is it designed to solve?
KAIST Humanoid v0.9 is a full-size walking humanoid research robot from KAIST in South Korea. It explores how a humanoid can walk and handle heavy objects with its whole body.
Q2. What are the main capabilities and key features of KAIST Humanoid v0.9?
It walks and balances while pushing and lifting loads, assembles large letters using its own cameras, and has custom-built joints and arms designed in the lab.
Q3. Who is KAIST Humanoid v0.9 built for, and which industries can benefit from it?
It is built for researchers studying humanoid locomotion, manipulation and learning, rather than for factories or homes.
Q4. Is KAIST Humanoid v0.9 a commercial product or still a research prototype?
It is a research prototype from a university lab, not a commercial product.
Q5. Is KAIST Humanoid v0.9 currently available for purchase, and when is it expected to ship?
It is not for sale; KAIST has not announced any commercial availability or price.
Q6. How does KAIST Humanoid v0.9 actually work in real-world environments?
Its joints use custom actuators, a learned controller keeps it balanced, and its onboard cameras guide its arms, all trained with reinforcement learning and human demonstrations.
Q7. When was KAIST Humanoid v0.9 announced or officially launched?
KAIST published its v0.9 demonstration video in October 2026, following the earlier v0.7 revealed in March 2026.
Q8. How is KAIST Humanoid v0.9 different from other robots in the same category?
It stands out for combining fast walking with strong whole-body pushing and lifting, using hardware the lab designed itself.
Q9. Does KAIST Humanoid v0.9 require additional development or customization after purchase?
There is no customer customization; the lab continues to refine the robot as part of its research.
Q10. What is the future roadmap or planned upgrades for KAIST Humanoid v0.9?
KAIST is developing the platform towards more capable whole-body manipulation and is part of a national push for humanoid robots in Korea.
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