An open-source quadruped robot named Q8botOne aims to provide an affordable, fully assembled robotic platform for hobbyists, researchers, and developers. Building on the original Q8bot’s low-cost, agile design, Q8botOne comes fully assembled and ready to use right out of the box.

The robot now packs programmable actuators into a palm-sized platform, delivering dynamic mobility in a robot compact enough to roam across a desktop.

According to its maker, the robot will soon be available through a Crowd Supply campaign, making quadruped robotics more accessible to a wider audience.

Agile quadruped arrives

Q8botOne is an upcoming open-source quadruped robot developed by Eric Wu to make advanced legged robotics more accessible to hobbyists, students, researchers, and developers.

Despite its small size, Q8botOne is capable of performing a range of dynamic movements typically associated with much larger and more expensive quadruped robots. The robot can walk, trot, and jump, demonstrating agile locomotion that makes it suitable for robotics research, educational projects, and experimentation with autonomous behaviors. By eliminating the need for users to source parts and assemble the robot themselves, Q8botOne significantly lowers the barrier to entry for anyone interested in legged robotics, Hackster reported.

One of the robot’s most distinctive features is its highly integrated design. Unlike many small quadrupeds that rely on numerous wires routed throughout the body, Q8botOne incorporates its electronics directly onto a custom central printed circuit board. This streamlined architecture reduces cable clutter, improves reliability by minimizing potential failure points, lowers overall weight, and simplifies maintenance and troubleshooting. The result is a cleaner and more refined appearance that sets the platform apart from many traditional DIY robotics projects.

The robot’s locomotion system is powered by eight DYNAMIXEL XL-series smart actuators. These actuators drive lightweight parallel-linkage legs constructed from Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) 3D-printed components and precision ball-bearing joints. This combination provides a balance of strength, durability, and low weight, enabling smooth, accurate movement. The mechanical design has been optimized to support dynamic maneuvers while maintaining structural efficiency, according to Crowdsupply. 

At the heart of the system is an ESP32-C3-MINI-N4 microcontroller that manages onboard processing and robot control. Power is supplied by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery equipped with integrated protection circuitry to enhance operational safety and battery management. The robot is designed to provide a convenient user experience, allowing owners to begin experimenting immediately after powering it on.

Open quadruped platform

Each Q8botOne package will include a custom wireless controller dongle that comes pre-paired with the robot.

The controller features a joystick, multiple buttons, and USB-C connectivity for both power and communication. When connected to a computer, the controller provides access to software tools that enable users to configure, monitor, and control the robot in greater detail. This setup allows beginners to quickly get started while also offering advanced functionality for experienced developers, reports Crowdsupply.

Expansion capabilities are another key aspect of the platform. A Qwiic-compatible connector enables easy integration of additional sensors from manufacturers such as SparkFun and Adafruit without requiring complex wiring. The robot also includes a UART interface that supports co-processors, such as a Raspberry Pi. This interface can supply up to 5V at 3A, allowing users to add more powerful computing hardware for applications involving computer vision, AI, autonomous navigation, or custom robotics research.

Continuing the philosophy of the original Q8bot project, Q8botOne will remain fully open source. Mechanical designs are being created in Onshape, and firmware, hardware schematics, and related design files are expected to be released through the ZeroWireRobotics GitHub organization following the completion of the Crowd Supply campaign.

According to experts, the commitment to open-source development will allow users to study, modify, and extend the platform, fostering a community-driven ecosystem around the robot and enabling innovations in affordable quadruped robotics.

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Chinese robotics company UBTECH has launched UWORLD, a new consumer-focused brand, along with its U1 series of humanoid robots.

The move marks the company’s expansion from industrial automation into the home robotics market.

UBTECH spent years developing full-size humanoids for factories and warehouses, where manufacturers including NIO and FAW-Volkswagen have used its robots.

The U1 series brings technologies developed for safe human interaction, precision work, and autonomous operation in complex industrial environments into everyday household settings.

In March 2025, UBTECH and Siemens partnered to accelerate humanoid robot production, targeting an annual manufacturing capacity of 10,000 units by 2026.

Lifelike humanoid robots surge

The Shenzhen-based robotics firm recently unveiled the U1 series under its newly created consumer brand, UWORLD. The new series represents a dramatic departure from UBTECH’s traditional focus on industrial humanoid robots deployed in factories and warehouses.

Although the lifelike androids are expected to cost around $30,000, interest has been high. Pre-orders opened on JD.com on June 2, requiring a 3,000 yuan (about $450) deposit, and the company reported more than 2,100 reservations within the first week. Early customers are expected to receive deliveries beginning in mid-September, while a full public launch event is scheduled for June 30, reports Gazgoo.

Over the past several years, the company has supplied advanced humanoid systems for major manufacturers, including Airbus, Texas Instruments, NIO, ZEEKR, Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor, and FAW-Volkswagen. The technologies developed for those demanding industrial environments now form the foundation of the company’s first consumer-oriented humanoids.

UBTECH is offering both male and female versions of the U1. The male model stands 183 centimeters (6 feet) tall, while the female version measures 168 centimeters (5 feet 6 inches). Both feature lifelike silicone skin, realistic hair, expressive facial features, and an impressive 88 degrees of freedom throughout the body. This allows coordinated movement of the arms, legs, hands, neck, chest, and torso, creating highly natural-looking motions, reports Techeblog.

Promotional videos released by the company showcase the robots in cinematic settings, highlighting their realistic appearance. Close-up shots reveal detailed skin textures, natural-looking hair, subtle facial expressions, and reflective eyes designed to enhance their humanlike presence.

UBTECH claims to experience strong early demand for its new line of ultra-realistic humanoid companions, marking a major expansion beyond the industrial robotics market that helped establish the company’s reputation.

Beyond factory bots

Rather than focusing on physical labor, the U1 series is designed primarily for social interaction and emotional companionship.

The robots use onboard artificial intelligence to maintain conversations, recognize moods, and adapt their responses to users. According to UBTECH, the system can analyze facial expressions, tone of voice, and speaking patterns to estimate emotional states and adjust conversations accordingly. When users appear stressed or unhappy, the robot can offer supportive dialogue or attempt to guide interactions in a more positive direction.

The company also emphasizes privacy. Personal memories and conversation data are stored locally with encryption, and owners can customize both the appearance and personality traits of their robot over time. However, UBTECH has deliberately limited the platform’s capabilities. The robots can sit, stand, walk on flat indoor surfaces, and engage in conversation. Still, they are not intended to perform household chores or navigate challenging environments such as stairs or uneven terrain. Users also cannot freely program new behaviors or functions.

UBTECH’s move into consumer robotics is backed by growing momentum in its humanoid robot business. The company reported that revenue from its full-size embodied intelligent humanoid robot products and solutions reached 821 million yuan in 2025, more than 22 times higher than the previous year. The segment accounted for 41.1 percent of total company revenue, up from just 2.7 percent a year earlier, while cumulative deliveries reached 1,079 units, reports Gazgoo.

According to reports, by leveraging technologies originally developed for industrial automation, UBTECH is betting that realistic humanoid companions could become the next major category in consumer robotics.

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