What is the Songxing Siasun?
The Siasun Songxing is a full-size humanoid robot designed for industrial inspection and maintenance in hazardous environments. Manufactured by Siasun Robot & Automation in Shenyang, China, the robot stands 165 cm tall and weighs 85 kg, constructed from aluminum alloy and composites. It features 38 degrees of freedom—including 10 in its hands—enabling dexterous manipulation and bipedal walking. Electric servo motors with harmonic/planetary gears provide smooth motion, while an IP54 rating offers protection against dust and water. The onboard industrial x86 CPU and optional NVIDIA GPU run a Linux-based ROS environment, supporting sensor integration and LLM-based decision-making. The Songxing walks at up to 3 km/h and operates for 3 hours on a charge, making it suitable for short inspection rounds. Currently, the robot is a non-commercial prototype used for exhibitions, R&D, and technology demonstrations.
Specifications
Here are the full technical specifications.
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Height | 165 cm |
| Weight | 85 kg |
| Degrees of freedom | 38 |
| Battery life | 3 hours |
| Max speed | 3 km/h |
| Payload | Not specified |
| Price (new) | Undisclosed |
| Price (used range) | N/A (pre-commercial) |
Price & Value
New MSRP: Undisclosed
Used range: N/A
The Siasun Songxing is not commercially available, and no official price has been announced. As a prototype, Siasun likely uses it to demonstrate technology and attract research collaborations rather than generate revenue. Comparable humanoid robots such as the Unitree H1 are priced around $90,000, and the Fourier GR-1 is in a similar range, suggesting that a production-ready Songxing could be positioned competitively. However, without a confirmed release, any price estimate is speculative. For organizations considering a humanoid today, the lack of a purchase option and used market means no direct cost assessment. If Siasun eventually brings the Songxing to market, early adopters may benefit from government subsidies or research grants in China. For now, the Songxing's value lies in its potential rather than a concrete return on investment.
Who Is It For?
Best for: - University robotics labs researching humanoid locomotion and manipulation (38 DOF, ROS-based) - Industrial R&D departments evaluating humanoids for inspection tasks (IP54, hazardous environment suitability)
Not for: - Commercial deployment (not yet available for purchase) - Heavy payload applications (payload rating undisclosed)
Alternatives & Comparison
When evaluating humanoid platforms for research or industrial inspection, buyers typically compare the Songxing against other Chinese humanoids like the Unitree H1 and Fourier GR-1, which are closer to market readiness.
| Model | Price | Available | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fourier GR-1 | ~$100,000 (est.) | preorder | Available for purchase while Songxing is a prototype |
| Unitree H1 | ~$90,000 | yes | Immediate availability and 11 km/h top speed |
| UBTECH Walker S | ~$120,000 (est.) | enterprise-only | Full-body functionality with enterprise support |
Verdict: For labs or companies needing a robot today, the Unitree H1 offers immediate availability and superior walking speed at a known price. The Fourier GR-1 is a strong contender for those wanting a full-body humanoid with an open ROS ecosystem. The Siasun Songxing is best considered only if a research partnership with Siasun is feasible; otherwise, it's too early to rely on for real projects.
Use Cases & Capabilities
Industrial Inspection in Hazardous Environments
The Songxing is designed for inspecting chemical plants, refineries, and power stations where human entry is risky. Its IP54 rating shields internal components from dust and water splashes, while the humanoid form allows it to navigate facilities built for people—climbing stairs, opening doors, and reaching elevated panels. Equipped with cameras and sensors, it can perform visual inspections, read gauges, and detect gas leaks. The 3-hour battery life supports multi-location patrols, and remote operation via Ethernet/Wi-Fi enables real-time monitoring from a control room. With dexterous 10-DOF hands, it can manipulate valves and switches in emergency situations. This capability reduces the need for human workers in dangerous zones, enhancing safety.
Humanoid Robotics Research and Education
For universities and R&D labs, the Songxing offers a full-body platform to study bipedal locomotion, whole-body coordination, and AI-driven task execution. Its 38 DOF provide ample flexibility for motion planning experiments, while the ROS-based software stack facilitates custom algorithm development. The optional NVIDIA GPU enables on-robot machine learning for vision and manipulation. Students can program it to perform fetch-and-carry tasks, map environments, or interact with humans. As a prototype, access may require collaboration with Siasun, but it could become a standard testbed in robotics programs. The integration of LLMs opens further research into natural language interaction and autonomous decision-making.
Exhibition and Public Engagement
The Songxing's anthropomorphic design makes it a compelling exhibit at technology fairs, corporate showrooms, and science museums. Attendees can see it walk, wave, and even hand out items, drawing attention to Siasun's engineering prowess. Its interactive capabilities, enhanced by LLM integration, allow it to answer simple questions or perform scripted routines, engaging audiences. The IP54 protection means it can operate safely in crowded, slightly dusty environments. While not intended for full autonomous deployment at events, it serves as a powerful marketing tool to showcase humanoid potential. This use raises the robot's visibility, possibly accelerating commercial partnerships.
Remote Operated Maintenance in High-Risk Sites
Equipped with wireless connectivity, the Songxing can be teleoperated from a safe distance in environments like nuclear facilities, disaster zones, or deep mines. An operator wearing a VR headset and motion controllers could see through the robot's cameras and control its arms and hands with haptic feedback. The 10-DOF hands enable precise manipulation of tools, while the 38-DOF body provides stable locomotion over rough terrain. Low latency is crucial, and while the glass-to-action latency hasn't been published, the assumed industrial x86 CPU and wired/wireless gigabit Ethernet should support real-time control. This use case could reduce human casualties in emergency response scenarios, though reliability under extreme conditions remains unproven.
Simple Object Handling in Controlled Labs
Although payload is undisclosed, video demonstrations imply the Songxing can lift lightweight items such as sensors, tools, or sample containers. This makes it suitable for delivering materials in labs or warehouses with flat floors. The 5-fingered hands with harmonic/planetary gears provide sufficient dexterity for grasping and releasing small objects. Researchers could program it to follow a person or navigate to predetermined waypoints carrying equipment. While not intended for heavy industrial payloads, it could fill roles akin to mobile manipulators in clean environments. Its success in this area depends on Siasun providing a payload rating and software frameworks for object handling.
History & Background
Siasun Robot & Automation Co., Ltd. was founded in 2000 in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China, as a spin-off from the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The company quickly became a prominent industrial robot manufacturer in China, supplying automotive and electronics industries with robotic arms, welding systems, and automated guided vehicles. In the 2010s, Siasun expanded into collaborative robots with the DUCO series, widely used for assembly, sorting, and light manufacturing. In 2024, at a major industry event, Siasun unveiled the Songxing humanoid robot, marking its entry into the highly competitive humanoid market. The Songxing prototype showcased bipedal walking, dual-arm manipulation, and an ability to operate in hazardous environments with an IP54 rating. It was compared to other Chinese humanoids like the Unitree H1 and Fourier GR-1 but stood out for its focus on industrial inspection. Since its reveal, Siasun has displayed the Songxing at various exhibitions, but no production timeline or pricing has been disclosed. As of 2026, the Songxing remains a research and demonstration platform, with Siasun possibly refining the design based on feedback from potential industrial partners.
Buying Used — What to Check
Payload specification Payload is not officially published; verify with manufacturer for real capability.
Battery cycle count Prototype batteries may have limited cycles; used units could suffer from reduced runtime.
Software version and licenses Pre-commercial software may lack updates or be locked to research agreements.