Kepler’s Forerunner K2 “Bumblebee” sets robotics milestone with 8-hour livestream at WAIC 2025, proving the real-world potential of humanoid AI in industry.
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| Kepler’s humanoid robot “Bumblebee” showcases groundbreaking endurance and real-time AI decision-making during an 8-hour livestream at WAIC 2025 in Shanghai. Image: Kepler |
Shanghai, China — August 2, 2025:
Kepler, a leading Chinese robotics innovator, has marked a significant leap in humanoid AI technology with its Forerunner K2 “Bumblebee” robot completing the world’s first 8-hour livestream by a bipedal humanoid. The achievement was unveiled during the 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC), held in Shanghai from July 26 to 29, underscoring the readiness of embodied AI for real-world deployment in industrial settings.
On July 27, the K2 “Bumblebee” streamed live from 9 AM to 5 PM, performing a full shift of tasks across four simulated industrial environments: logistics sorting, material handling, automotive manufacturing, and education/research. The robot’s standout “1-hour charge, 8-hour operation” performance was designed to match human work schedules, paving the way for its adoption in manufacturing, warehousing, and service industries.
Standing 175 cm tall and weighing 75 kg, the humanoid robot boasts 52 degrees of freedom and operates using Kepler’s proprietary planetary roller screw actuators. These components offer exceptional strength, durability, and energy efficiency. According to Kepler’s Hardware Director Zhang Minliang, the robot’s actuator system, arranged in a series-parallel configuration, delivers industry-leading payload capacity and dynamic power savings, with near-zero idle consumption.
In action, the K2 wowed attendees with its ability to dance, retrieve blind boxes, play Pictionary, and sort complex items. Its “Nimble Master” dexterity system features 11-DoF hands, six-axis force wrists, and 25 force touchpoints per finger, enabling human-like manipulation with 0.01-degree precision and millimeter-level accuracy. One highlight involved the K2 flawlessly sorting deformable blind box packages—tasks where conventional automation fails—using tactile feedback and AI-driven adjustments.
Kepler's robot integrates a tri-level system of embodied perception, decision-making, and execution, simulating the interaction between the human brain and cerebellum. Its AI engine is powered by distilled micro-models, trained for efficiency across multi-modal inputs including vision, touch, sound, and force. This architecture allows the K2 to adjust its grip in real time, avoiding slippage or damage when handling irregular objects.
The company has now opened pre-sales for the K2 “Bumblebee,” offering three configurations: Bipedal Basic, Bipedal Developer, and Wheeled Developer, with a starting price of ¥248,000. Early adopters will benefit from a special 10x multiplier incentive, reflecting Kepler’s aggressive push toward mass commercialization.
Kepler is developing localized solutions for global industries and has already validated the K2 in real-world scenarios with multiple partners. Its hardware-first strategy is reinforced by co-developing next-generation components, including advanced joint modules, with top-tier Chinese manufacturers.
As Kepler continues expanding internationally, it seeks to redefine industrial productivity through intelligent humanoid systems. WAIC 2025 marked not just a demonstration but a declaration: humanoid robotics, powered by embodied AI, is ready for the factory floor, the warehouse, the classroom—and beyond.