Chinese startup challenges Elon Musk's robots.

The T800 humanoid robot, with its Bruce Lee-like kick, signals China's readiness to go head-to-head with Tesla.

A small Chinese startup called EngineAI Robotics, founded in 2023 with an initial investment of only about 1 million yuan (equivalent to $142,000), is making a big splash in the humanoid robotics industry. In less than two years, EngineAI has developed the T800 robot, which is considered superior to Elon Musk's Optimus.

The T800's standout feature is its ability to perform a powerful, Bruce Lee-style roundhouse kick, with an impact force equivalent to that of a small car. Not only is it powerful, the T800 is also equipped with a solid-state battery – an advanced technology that allows the robot to operate continuously for 4–5 hours while maintaining near-human agility.

EngineAI Robotics' T800 humanoid robot is capable of delivering powerful Bruce Lee-style spinning kicks. (Source: Hangout)

Furthermore, the T800 boasts a flexible joint system with multiple degrees of freedom, allowing it to perform complex movements that many current robot models cannot achieve. This represents a major step forward in simulating natural human movement.

Meanwhile, Tesla's Optimus robot has only managed to run a few steps and even fell when tested delivering a bottle of water. This has led to skepticism and some ridicule among Chinese netizens regarding Elon Musk's ambitions in the field of humanoid robots.

Prior to the launch of the T800, EngineAI introduced the SA01 robot as a crucial test run. Currently, the company aims to mass-produce the T800 starting in 2026, targeting the service and industrial robot markets. This success is supported by the abundant technical workforce in China and the flexible supply chain in the Pearl River Delta region, where ideas can be quickly realized into tangible products.

The emergence of EngineAI and the T800 shows that China is emerging as a formidable competitor in the race to develop humanoid robots. With low startup costs but a rapid pace of innovation, EngineAI is challenging Elon Musk's ambitions and ushering in a new era of competition in the robotics industry.

Mr. Quang

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/startup-trung-quoc-thach-thuc-robot-cua-elon-musk-ar992971.html