By asahifile In an age where robotics are advancing rapidly, a new contender in the consumer market has emerged. Noetix Robotics, a startup based in Beijing, has introduced Bumi, an affordable humanoid robot priced at around $1,400. This robot, designed primarily for educational and personal use, weighs approximately 26 pounds and stands around three feet tall, making it a compact and lightweight option for home users.
Bumi showcases basic functionality, such as walking and dancing, which differ significantly from the complex automation seen in high-end robots. The startup plans to launch a programming interface for Bumi, encouraging creative and educational applications. Preorders for Bumi are expected to go live later this year.
At this price point, Bumi provides a more economical choice compared to other humanoid robots. Unitree’s R1, launched earlier this year with a starting price of $5,900, offers more advanced capabilities, yet remains significantly more expensive than Bumi. In the context of the market, Bumi’s introduction is a game-changer, especially when compared to Tesla’s Optimus bot, which is estimated to cost around $20,000.
Despite its limited initial capabilities, the introduction of Bumi signifies a shift towards making robotics more accessible to consumers, emphasizing educational uses over purely industrial applications. As robotic technology continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how the competition shapes the future landscape of consumer robotics.