{"id":"63df6632-c8a1-4a49-ba31-5c46755c1e23","name":"Kepler Robotics","slug":"kepler","description":"Chinese humanoid robotics company (Shanghai Kepler Exploration Robotics) developing the Forerunner series humanoid robots. Founder inspired by Tesla's Optimus. Forerunner K2 features planetary roller screw actuators for industrial work.","status":"private (reportedly Tao Motor-controlled)","founded":2023,"hq":"Shanghai, China","fundingTotal":null,"type":"both","reviewStatus":"reviewed","lifecycleState":"active","supersededByCompanyId":null,"sources":[{"url":"https://www.therobotreport.com/kepler-robotics-showcases-k2-bumblebee-icra-2025/","title":"Kepler showcases K2 Bumblebee at ICRA 2025 (independent demo; Gen-5 specs)","sourceName":"The Robot Report"},{"url":"https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/china-kepler-humanoid-robot-shanghai-plant","title":"Kepler K2 in real-world testing at an SAIC-GM auto plant in Shanghai","sourceName":"Interesting Engineering"},{"url":"https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/worlds-first-commercially-available-hybrid-architecture-humanoid-robot-moves-into-mass-production-kepler-marks-the-start-of-a-new-industrial-era-302568138.html","title":"Kepler announces K2 'mass production' at RMB 248,000 (Sept 2025; company claim)","sourceName":"Kepler (PR Newswire)"},{"url":"https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/kepler-debuts-k2-humanoid-robot","title":"Kepler debuts K2 humanoid robot (Gen-5 lineage K1 -> K2)","sourceName":"Interesting Engineering"}],"keyFacts":[{"label":"Founder","value":"Yang Hua (Mr. Hu) — founder of Chinese tech companies, inspired by Tesla Optimus"},{"label":"HQ","value":"Shanghai, China"},{"label":"Founded","value":"~2023"},{"label":"Product","value":"Forerunner K2 — humanoid robot for industrial applications"},{"label":"Actuation","value":"Planetary roller screw power system — unique actuation approach"},{"label":"Testing","value":"AI-powered humanoid robots began real-world testing at industrial sites (2026)"},{"label":"Mass production claim","value":"Claims will soon be able to mass produce humanoid robots"},{"label":"Incidents","value":"None found — audited"}],"aliases":["Kepler","Kepler Exploration Robot","Shanghai Kepler"],"collisionRisk":"low","reviewNote":null,"atsProvider":null,"atsSlug":null,"factoryLocations":null,"manufacturingCapacity":null,"orgType":null,"burnSignal":null,"litigationEvents":null,"insurancePostureDisclosed":null,"unitEconomicsDisclosed":null,"createdAt":"2026-06-03T19:23:06.525Z","updatedAt":"2026-07-18T02:51:16.691Z","jsonLd":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Organization","@id":"https://registry.deploy.report/companies/kepler","url":"https://registry.deploy.report/companies/kepler","name":"Kepler Robotics","alternateName":["Kepler","Kepler Exploration Robot","Shanghai Kepler"],"description":"Chinese humanoid robotics company (Shanghai Kepler Exploration Robotics) developing the Forerunner series humanoid robots. Founder inspired by Tesla's Optimus. Forerunner K2 features planetary roller screw actuators for industrial work.","identifier":"63df6632-c8a1-4a49-ba31-5c46755c1e23","foundingDate":"2023","address":"Shanghai, China","publisher":{"@id":"https://deploy.report/#organization"}},"framework_metadata":{"framework_schema_version":"0.1.0","verification_status":"verified","maturity_stage":null,"lifecycle_state":null,"architectural_position":{"cohort":null,"sub_cohorts":[]},"within_cohort_verified_vs_claimed_pair":null,"cap_flags":[],"verification_depth":{"sources_count":4,"primary_source_types":["primary-company-ir","secondary-trade-publication"]}}}