With significant financial backing, one of China’s buzziest humanoid robotics firms is drawing inspiration from a cinematic icon for its next-generation machine.
EngineAI rocked the robotics world when it emerged from seemingly out of nowhere with its full-sized robotic humanoid and its freakishly humanlike walking gait. It immediately set a new benchmark for lifelike bipedal locomotion.
Zhao Tongyang, who previously founded the Shenzhen-based startup Dogotix, launched EngineAI in 2023 after leaving Xpeng, where he led the EV maker’s humanoid robotics program. At a recent conference in Beijing, he said that nailing the robot’s walking gait was the first non-negotiable milestone before emerging from stealth.
Engine followed its flagship robot, the SE01, with a shorter, lower-end model called the PM01. Its pricing, starting around $14K, was notable for undercutting Unitree’s then record-low pricing for its short G1 humanoid. The robotics firm has since gained exposure far outside the usual tech echo chambers thanks to its viral videos like its homage to the 2004 cult classic, Kung Fu Hustle, and its dance collaboration with the popular streamer IShowSpeed.
Now, EngineAI is moving toward mass production with significant financial backing. According to reports, Engine secured nearly $139 million in total funding across two recent rounds. The financing was led by the Xpeng-affiliated Rockets Capital and JD.com, which is one of China’s largest retailers. The reports say Engine is aiming for a $1 billion valuation.
It’s just a fraction of the money pouring into Shenzhen’s robotics scene as the Chinese tech hub establishes itself as a leader in humanoids. If EngineAI hits unicorn status, it would join the ranks of fellow Shenzhen firms UBTECH Robotics and Shenzhen Dobot, both of which say they’ve started mass producing their industrial humanoids. Shenzhen, often called the Chinese Silicon Valley, is home to other leading humanoid developers like Pudu Robotics, LimX Dynamics, Astribot, Lumos Robotics, and the EV maker Xpeng.
In a new interview with Shenzhen cable television, Tongyang said his team is taking things to another level with its next-generation synthetic human prototype. The robot is code-named the T-800 as a nod to the iconic robot from The Terminator.
In the 1984 film that started it all, the Series 800 Terminator is an AI-powered humanoid robot with living tissue covering its hyper-alloy combat chassis. Built by Skynet, the Terminator boasts superior strength and durability compared to real humans.
It’s skilled in human mimicry and basic social interactions. After failing to unalive Sarah Connor in the 1984 movie, the T-800 bot is reprogrammed to protect her son, John Connor, in the 1991 follow up. The robot, portrayed by Arnold Schwarzenegger, returns again as a protector in Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003) and with emotional growth in Terminator: Dark Fate (2019).
According to Engine AI, its next-generation humanoid will possess strength comparable to people. Tongyang said the prototype is combat capable. EngineAI’s robot, also clearly inspired by Iron Man, will presumably participate in the robot boxing tournament the company is planning for late 2025.
EngineAI says it’s moving past typical humanoid benchmarks to better align its machines with people rather than other machines.
The startup plans to showcase the prototype at the 2025 World Robot Conference in Beijing in August. They’ll also showcase their new quadrupedal robot that can carry loads up to 40 kg and has a range up to 60 km. The payload capacity is significantly higher than other robotic dogs in its class, including Spot by Boston Dynamics. It’s positioned for applications in logistics and last-mile delivery. Engine’s robodog has not been named publicly and it is not listed on the company’s website.
The startup is also developing a third-generation, service-oriented humanoid robot that resembles Ed-209 from the RoboCop series, another major influence on EngineAI.