Kepler K2

Kepler K2 (KEPLERBOT Forerunner K2) is a full-size humanoid from Shanghai-based Kepler, successor to the K1, aimed mainly at factory and logistics work. Kepler lists 52 degrees of freedom, a 25-30 kg two-arm carrying capacity and up to 8 hours of work after a one-hour charge.

Hardware

Kepler's site lists the bipedal K2 at 175 cm and 75 kg. The full version has 52 DoF: 6 per leg, 7 per arm and 11 per dexterous hand. The basic version has 30 DoF, and a wheeled development version weighs 135 kg. The earlier K1 was 178 cm, 85 kg and 40 DoF.

K2 mixes several in-house KEPLERGEAR actuator types: planetary roller-screw actuators (up to 8,200 N peak, 81.3% energy-conversion efficiency), rotary actuators with up to 220 Nm and 0.01° repeatability, and micro actuators in the hands. Each finger has 25 tactile points and each wrist a six-axis force sensor. Kepler also shows a newer tendon-driven hand with steel cables.

Perception is vision-only, plus inertial sensors and flexible tactile sensors. Kepler quotes 8 hours of runtime and a one-hour charge. Compute is 100 TOPS on the development versions (another part of the site lists 275 TOPS for K2).

Software and AI

Kepler uses a hierarchical AI system that splits tasks into perception, decision and actuation layers, moving across generations from rules to data-driven models to an end-to-end large model. The robot runs Kepler's Nebula system (Kepler OS) with visual programming, multi-robot coordination, remote debugging and OTA updates. Training data comes from real-world tests, the lab, partner sites and simulation.

Use cases and availability

Kepler lists smart manufacturing (inspection and assembly), warehousing and logistics (material handling), specialised outdoor work in harsh conditions, and research and education. It does not name customers or deployment numbers.

Kepler Exploration Robotics, which brought its first humanoid to market in 2023, is based in the Zhangjiang park in Shanghai's Pudong district. The site has a "Buy Now" button but no price; the configuration table gives a 90-day lead time and an 8- or 12-month warranty depending on version, and industrial versions are configured individually.

Timeline

• 2023 Kepler Exploration Robotics brings its first Forerunner humanoid to market.

Sources

1. KEPLERBOT Forerunner K2 product page, Kepler Exploration Robotics (2026-10)
2. KEPLERBOT Forerunner K1 product page, Kepler Exploration Robotics (2026-10)
3. About Kepler and contact (site texts, English locale), Kepler Exploration Robotics (2026-10)

Updated: 2026-10-10

Compared with the catalogue

• At 175 cm the Kepler K2 is taller than 68% of the humanoids in the catalogue (median: 170 cm).
• It has 52 degrees of freedom against a catalogue median of 28; more degrees of freedom usually means finer arm and hand movement.
• Its weight of 75 kg (catalogue median: 65 kg) matters for transport and for working around people.
• It is one of 3 Kepler models in the catalogue and one of 128 humanoids from China.

Capabilities