The Chinese humanoid robot has a skin with 18,000 sensor points

Developed by Kinetix AI based in Shenzhen (China), KAI is 173 cm tall and weighs about 70 kg, containing a 115 degrees of freedom (DoF) system, including 72 degrees of freedom in two hands (36 degrees each). According to Interesting Engineeringthis parameter is superior to most humanoid robots today.

KAI’s special feature lies in its synthetic tactile skin layer that integrates 18,000 sensor points, capable of detecting forces as light as 0.1 newton (N), allowing for tactile recognition manipulation, adjusting grip and contact behavior based on real-time feedback. That is, robots can handle fragile objects or interact with humans more safely.

With 36 degrees of freedom in each hand, the system incorporates 22 active joints for precise control. The 14 passive joints act as mechanical shock absorbers allowing the hand to adapt to objects and absorb impacts without immediate computational input. This helps Kinetix AI robots operate more accurately and safely in unpredictable real-world environments.

According to Kinetix AI, KAI is designed for a movement speed of about 5 km/h with a range of motion similar to human flexibility. The machine can carry loads of up to 20 kg and operate continuously for four hours per charge, using a 1.7 kWh semi-solid battery – a battery that improves safety by reducing the risk of overheating compared to traditional lithium-ion batteries.

Regarding software, Kinetix AI said that KAI runs its own artificial intelligence system similar to World Model – the ability to simulate the physical world, which is considered a realm to move towards “self-aware” AI. Robots are trained on real-world data, able to represent virtual, interactive and 3D environments.

Also according to Kinetix AI, its model divides the decision-making process for robots into three layers: “base, action and evaluation”. That is, before making movements, the humanoid robot will predict potential changes in the environment and evaluate possible outcomes before acting.

To train KAI, the Chinese company has developed its own wearable device called KAI Halo. Through this device, the operator generates training data in daily tasks, including collecting first-person video, body movements and spatial data, helping the robot build a natural and diverse data set.

KAI plans applications in retail, personal concierge services and home support instead of heavy industrial environments. Robots will take care of everyday tasks such as sorting goods, sorting and removing items from the dishwasher, folding clothes and even threading.

Kinetix AI has not announced the official price other than “under 40,000 USD”. Mass production is expected to begin later this year.