PROTOTYPE
Forerunner K2
Kepler Robotics
PrivateChinese humanoid robotics company founded in 2023 by Debo Hu in Shanghai's Pudong district.
Founded 2023$60M raised
Humanoid Robots
About Kepler Robotics
Kepler Exploration Robot Co. is a Shanghai-based humanoid robotics company developing industrial-grade bipedal robots for manufacturing, logistics, and commercial automation. Founded in 2023, the company focuses on delivering cost-effective humanoid robots that combine advanced mechanical design with scalable production for real-world industrial deployment. Its flagship Forerunner K2 is built on a hybrid actuator architecture that integrates planetary roller-screw linear actuators with rotary actuators, balancing precision, efficiency, and dynamic performance. By targeting a selling price below $30,000, Kepler aims to accelerate the commercial adoption of humanoid robots across factories and other industrial environments.
Technical Profile
Platform maturity, autonomy stack, and flagship-system specifications in one view.
Technology Snapshot
A concise view of platform maturity and deployment footprint.
Hardware GenerationGen 1
Flagship PlatformForerunner K2
Deployments5
AI Stack
Capabilities and model layers highlighted by the company.
01ROS2
02PyTorch
Forerunner K2 Specs
Published operating specifications for the lead system.
Battery Life8 hours
Payload Capacity40 kg
Speed5 km/h
Degrees of Freedom40
Investors
Latest Updates
April 2025 - September 2025Company MilestoneCorporate
Commercial deployment and mass production beginIn April 2025, the K2 began commercial deployment at the SAIC-GM automotive plant in Shanghai. By September 2025, Kepler announced mass production. The company holds framework agreements for several thousand units worth hundreds of millions of yuan.
Valuation History
Track Kepler Robotics's valuation over time.
Funding Rounds
2023-09-01Seed$50M
2024-04-01Series A$200M
2025-01-01Series B$500M
Kepler Robotics Team
Kepler Robotics History
- 2023
Kepler Robotics is founded in Pudong
Kepler was founded in 2023 in Shanghai's Pudong district by Debo Hu, inspired by Tesla's Optimus humanoid. The company was built on three years of prior research and four product iterations before its public debut.
ShanghaiForerunner - November 2023 - January 2024
Forerunner K1 brings Kepler to market
Just four months after founding, Kepler unveiled the Forerunner K1 in November 2023. The company debuted internationally at CES 2024, where the K1 attracted significant attention. The Forerunner lineup includes three models: K1, S1, and D1.
K1CES - October 2024
K2 debuts with hybrid actuators and aggressive pricing
The second-generation K2, nicknamed "Bumblebee," debuted in October 2024 with a hybrid actuator architecture achieving 81.3% energy efficiency, approximately 8 hours of battery life, 30 kg dual-arm payload, and a unit price of RMB 248,000 (~$34,000). Over 80% of core hardware is developed in-house.
K2Hybrid architecture - April 2025 - September 2025
Commercial deployment and mass production begin
In April 2025, the K2 began commercial deployment at the SAIC-GM automotive plant in Shanghai. By September 2025, Kepler announced mass production. The company holds framework agreements for several thousand units worth hundreds of millions of yuan.
SAIC-GMMass production