K-Scale Labs released the K-Bot, an open-source humanoid robot priced at $8,999.
The hardware and software are fully open source to reduce costs, navigate manufacturing challenges, and enable community contributions.
A “Full Autonomy” upgrade option provides free hardware and software updates until the robot reaches full autonomy, helping fund ongoing development.
K-Bot uses commercial off-the-shelf components, a custom Rust control loop, and reinforcement learning simulation for walking and balance.
The target market is indie developers and researchers seeking a hackable humanoid platform rather than traditional business robotics users.
The company partners with volume suppliers and manufacturers to improve quality and lower the bill of materials.
Current applications focus on experimentation, entertainment, and early hacking use cases, with future goals including household chores and disability support.
Community engagement is encouraged through GitHub, documentation, Discord, and a bounty program for open source contributions.
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