What is the Siasun Duco?
The SIASUN DUCO is a wheeled humanoid robot developed by SIASUN Robot & Automation, one of China's largest robotics manufacturers headquartered in Shenyang, Liaoning Province. Revealed in 2024, the DUCO represents SIASUN's strategic entry into the humanoid robotics segment after decades of industrial robot production. Unlike many bipedal humanoids, the DUCO features a wheeled base for stable, efficient navigation in factory and warehouse environments where walking capability is unnecessary. It offers 35 degrees of freedom across its dual arms and upper body, with 5-fingered hands capable of 10 kg payload manipulation. The robot integrates an industrial PC with AI acceleration, running a Linux-based robotics OS with support for external LLM integration. Its aluminum alloy frame with composite panels targets industrial automation, logistics, and service robotics applications where dexterous upper-body manipulation is the primary requirement.
Specifications
Here are the full technical specifications.
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Height | 155 cm |
| Weight | 100 kg |
| Degrees of freedom | 35 |
| Battery life | 7 hours |
| Max speed | 5 km/h |
| Payload | 10 kg |
| Price (new) | $85,000 |
| Price (used range) | N/A (prototype) |
Price & Value
New MSRP: $85,000
Used range: N/A
The SIASUN DUCO carries a listed prototype price of $85,000 USD, positioning it in the mid-range of the emerging humanoid robot market. At this price point, it undercuts the Fourier GR-1 ($150,000) and aligns closely with the Unitree H1 ($90,000), though the DUCO trades bipedal locomotion for a simpler wheeled base — a design choice that may reduce mechanical complexity and long-term maintenance costs. Because the DUCO remains a prototype in 2026, no used units exist, and buyers should expect the final commercial price to potentially shift once production scales. The total cost of ownership will depend heavily on battery lifespan, software licensing, and integration expenses, none of which SIASUN has published. For enterprises evaluating early adoption, the DUCO's value proposition hinges on SIASUN's established industrial robotics infrastructure and support network across China, which could translate to faster deployment and reliable aftermarket service compared to startup competitors. Buyers should budget for custom end-effector tooling and facility integration costs beyond the base unit price.
Who Is It For?
Best for: - Industrial manufacturers seeking a wheeled humanoid for stable-floor factory automation (10 kg payload, wheeled base eliminates balance concerns) - Logistics operators evaluating humanoid-assisted picking and sorting in controlled warehouse environments with flat surfaces - Research labs studying dexterous humanoid manipulation without the added complexity and cost of bipedal locomotion platforms
Not for: - Outdoor or uneven-terrain deployments (wheeled base requires flat, smooth surfaces and cannot navigate stairs or curbs) - Applications requiring bipedal locomotion such as multi-floor facilities without elevators or disaster-response scenarios - Organizations needing an immediately shippable commercial product (DUCO is a prototype with no announced release date or production timeline)
Alternatives & Comparison
The DUCO competes in the mid-range humanoid market against both established Chinese robotics firms and international startups, with the wheeled-vs-bipedal design choice being the decisive differentiator for most buyers.
| Model | Price | Available | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fourier GR-1 | $150,000 | preorder | Bipedal humanoid with 40 DoF — nearly double the price for full walking capability and higher dexterity |
| Unitree H1 | $90,000 | preorder | Bipedal design with integrated 3D LiDAR at a similar price point — better for multi-terrain navigation but less industrial track record |
Verdict: Choose the DUCO if your deployment environment has flat floors and you want to avoid the complexity, cost, and maintenance burden of bipedal locomotion — SIASUN's two-decade industrial robotics pedigree also provides a service-network advantage in China. Choose the Unitree H1 if you need stair-climbing or outdoor capability at a comparable price, and the Fourier GR-1 if your budget stretches to $150,000 and you demand maximum dexterity (40 DoF) with full walking.
Use Cases & Capabilities
Industrial Assembly & Material Handling
The DUCO's 35 degrees of freedom and 10 kg payload make it suitable for assembly-line tasks requiring precise upper-body manipulation such as component insertion, fastening, and part transfer between stations. Its wheeled base provides stable, vibration-free positioning on factory floors, eliminating the balance-control overhead that bipedal humanoids must manage during fine motor tasks. The aluminum alloy frame with composite panels offers durability for multi-shift industrial operations while keeping weight manageable at 100 kg. The Linux-based robotics OS supports custom automation workflows, though integration with existing PLC and MES systems would require SIASUN engineering support. The 7-hour battery life covers a full shift with a mid-shift recharge window.
Logistics & Warehouse Automation
In controlled warehouse environments, the DUCO can perform bin-picking, sorting, palletizing, and light kitting tasks using its RGB-depth camera system and 5-fingered hands. The 5 km/h speed on a wheeled base matches typical warehouse AMR speeds and keeps pace with conveyor-fed workflows. Ethernet and Wi-Fi connectivity enables real-time WMS integration for order-driven task dispatching. The absence of walking capability is not a limitation in single-floor fulfillment centers, and the wheeled design reduces the per-unit cost compared to bipedal competitors. SIASUN's existing AGV and logistics automation product lines suggest the DUCO will eventually integrate into broader warehouse orchestration systems.
Customer-Facing Service Roles
The DUCO's humanoid upper body, dark grey and black color scheme, and 155 cm height give it a professional appearance suitable for retail information desks, hotel lobbies, and exhibition spaces. The RGB-depth cameras and potential for external LLM integration enable natural customer interaction — greeting visitors, answering questions, and performing simple demonstration tasks like pouring or object handover. The wheeled base allows smooth, quiet movement across lobby floors without the unsettling gait of walking robots that can make customers uncomfortable. A 7-hour runtime covers a full business-day shift with a charging break. The DUCO's safe-with-humans certification status means it can operate in close proximity to the public without protective barriers.
Research & Development Platform
Academic and corporate R&D teams investigating humanoid manipulation can use the DUCO as a stable, wheeled testbed that isolates upper-body research from locomotion challenges. The Linux-based OS and industrial PC with AI acceleration provide a familiar development environment for ROS-based experimentation, reinforcement learning, and imitation learning pipelines. The 35-DoF upper body with 5-fingered hands offers sufficient kinematic complexity for grasping and dexterous manipulation research without the financial barrier of $150,000+ bipedal platforms. SIASUN's harmonic and precision reducer drivetrain mirrors industrial robot quality standards, ensuring repeatable experimental results over extended research campaigns.
History & Background
SIASUN Robot & Automation was founded in 2000 in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China, and has since grown into one of China's largest robotics enterprises. The company is publicly listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange and is a subsidiary of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, giving it deep institutional backing. SIASUN built its reputation on industrial robots — articulated arms, AGVs, collaborative robots, and automated logistics systems deployed across automotive and electronics manufacturing in China and globally. The DUCO humanoid robot was first revealed in 2024 as the company's strategic move into the emerging general-purpose humanoid market, leveraging decades of actuator and control system expertise. Unlike competitors that pursued full bipedal locomotion, SIASUN chose a wheeled base design for the DUCO, prioritizing immediate industrial deployability over walking capability — a pragmatic bet that many factory and warehouse environments do not require legs. As of 2026, the DUCO remains a prototype with no commercial release date announced, though SIASUN continues to develop the platform as part of China's broader national initiative to lead the humanoid robotics industry by 2030.
Buying Used — What to Check
Verify SIASUN warranty transfer As a prototype robot, any unit that reaches the secondary market will likely have been a development or demo unit — confirm whether SIASUN's warranty and support terms transfer to second owners before committing.
Inspect harmonic reducer wear The harmonic and precision reducers in the DUCO's 35 DoF drivetrain are high-precision components that wear over time — request service logs and cycle counts from the seller to estimate remaining lifespan and budget for potential replacement.
Validate battery health and replacement availability The 7-hour battery pack is a custom component with no published third-party replacements — confirm actual runtime under load and verify that SIASUN or a qualified service partner can supply a replacement battery before purchasing a used unit.
