Engine AI

Product Family

• SE01 — a full-size, 170 cm, ~55 kg humanoid with 32 degrees of freedom (DoF), designed as Engine AI’s flagship “general-purpose” platform. The system integrates a depth camera, multi-mic array, LiDAR-assisted 360° perception (“Engine Sense”), and quick-swap 10,000 mAh battery packs. The company markets 2 m/s “normal walking speed,” a 10-year design life (aluminum chassis), and self-developed joint modules. 

• PM01 — a lightweight, high-dynamics, open humanoid platform (≈138 cm, ≈40 kg) that exposes hardware and software interfaces for education, research, and developer ecosystems. It features ≥23 DoF, 320° waist rotation, and a dual-compute architecture pairing Intel N97 (x86) with NVIDIA Jetson Orin. Engine AI advertises open training/deployment code (ROS/ONNX, MuJoCo sim2sim, Isaac-based training) to accelerate third-party applications. 

• SA01 — a bipedal research/education platform that preceded SE01. Company timelines and local reporting identify SA01’s initial release in July 2024. 

Safety and Industrial Design

SE01 emphasizes a human-centric ID (front-facing “eyes,” wraparound speakers mimicking human voice direction) and in-joint cable routing to reduce snag risk. Mechanical claims include self-developed harmonic/planetary/ball-screw joints, 186 N·m peak knee torque, dual encoders, cross-roller bearings, and local forced-air cooling at critical joints. 

Perception and HRI

The platforms integrate Intel RealSense RGB-D (e.g., D435/D435i), multi-mic arrays, and LiDAR for panoramic sensing. Onboard UI features (e.g., PM01’s interactive chest display) and lighting accents support applications in public spaces and labs. 

Technology and Specifications

SE01 (Flagship, full-size)

• Form factor: 1700 × 520 × 270 mm; ~55 kg

• Mobility: bipedal locomotion, ~2 m/s walking speed (claimed)

• Degrees of freedom: 32 total (single leg 6 DoF; single arm 4 DoF; hand 6 DoF)

• Perception: RGB-D camera (Intel RealSense D435), 360° LiDAR, IMU

• Compute: Intel N92 CPU + NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano (listed as “high-compute module”)

• Power: 13-series Li-ion, 10,000 mAh hot-swappable battery; ~2 h endurance (claimed)

• Joints & actuation: in-house joint modules; knee max torque 186 N·m; dual encoders; in-joint wiring; force-control precision 0.2 N·m (specified for power joints)

• Connectivity & I/O: USB 3.0, 1 GbE; physical E-stop and indicators
  (Notes in the official page clarify that figures are company data and subject to configuration/conditions.) 

PM01 (Open embodied platform)

• Form factor: 1388 (H) × 490 (W) × 220 (D) mm; ~40 kg

• Mobility/DoF: full-body ≥23 DoF; >300° waist rotation; single arm 5 DoF; single leg 6 DoF

• Perception: Intel RealSense D435i, large-array microphones

• Compute: Intel N97 + NVIDIA Jetson Orin; extensive software stack compatibility (Windows/Ubuntu, NVIDIA Isaac/Metropolis/Holoscan; ROS/ONNX)

• Power: 10,000 mAh quick-swap battery; claimed up to 2 m/s walking for demonstrations

• Openness: published training/deployment code, interfaces for LiDAR/ultrasonic/force sensors/vision modules and dexterous hands

• Core actuation metrics: joint peak torque 145 N·m; torque-density up to 130 N·m/kg; 5% joint force-control precision (as presented)

• Editions: Commercial and Education SKUs with shared dimensions and mass
  
  

Control & Algorithms

Engine AI repeatedly emphasizes an end-to-end neural approach to gait learning and full-body planning, describing “natural human gait” with fewer “shuffling” artifacts. Shenzhen government coverage cites 2 m/s normal walking, agile maneuvers (squats, push-ups, turns, grasping, running, and jumps), and a focus on industrial-grade longevity while minimizing reliance on costly six-axis force-torque sensors. 

Applications and Use Cases

Industrial and Commercial Pilots

Engine AI positions SE01 for industrial deployment scenarios, citing motion stability, in-house joints, and lifecycle design. Shenzhen’s report frames the model as an “industrial robot,” with demonstrations of complex agility that could translate into logistics support, autonomous inspection, and front-of-house experiential robotics when paired with perception and manipulation.

Education, Research, and Developer Ecosystems

PM01 and SA01 target schools, labs, and developer communities. The company promotes open training code (Isaac/MuJoCo/ROS/ONNX) and extensible hardware I/O, enabling curricula on locomotion, perception, HRI, and whole-body control, plus mobile-manipulation experiments with third-party sensors and hands. 

Public Demonstrations and Media

Engine AI’s prototypes have been shown in Shenzhen public trials and stage performances (e.g., the CCTV “Setting Sail 2025” gala appearance). Photo features from Xinhua in October–November 2025 further document in-store and lab scenes with EngineAI units. 

Advantages / Benefits

• Natural gait focus: The company’s headline differentiator is end-to-end, neural-network gait optimization intended to deliver long-stride, upright walking instead of “shuffling” small steps.

• Integrated hardware stack: Self-developed joints, in-joint wiring, dual encoders, and specified torque/precision targets aim to balance performance with cost and durability.

• Openness for R&D: PM01 provides an unusually open platform (hardware/software) among recent humanoid offerings, supporting ROS, Isaac, MuJoCo, and ONNX workflows. 

• Design for serviceability: Hot-swappable batteries, modular sensors, and standard I/O may reduce downtime in testbeds and pilots. 

FAQ Section

What is Engine AI?

Engine AI is a Shenzhen-based startup (founded October 2023) that designs and manufactures humanoid robots, including the SE01 full-size robot, PM01 open platform, and SA01 education unit. 

How does Engine AI’s humanoid gait work?

The company cites an end-to-end neural network approach for natural human gait, combined with full-body motion planning and self-developed joints. Demonstrations and local reporting highlight ~2 m/s walking and agile motions such as squats and turns. 

Why is Engine AI important?

Engine AI’s focus on natural locomotion and open developer tooling addresses two bottlenecks in humanoids: gait realism and accessible R&D platforms. These features can accelerate education, prototype applications, and industrial pilots.

What are the benefits of PM01 versus SE01?

PM01 prioritizes openness (interfaces, code, developer compatibility) for education and research, while SE01 targets full-size, industrial-grade use with higher mass, more DoF, and a chassis designed for longer lifecycle and field serviceability. 

Does Engine AI publish specifications?

Yes. SE01 and PM01 pages list dimensions, mass, sensor suite, compute modules, DoF, and sample torque/precision figures; notes clarify that values are subject to change and represent company data.

Summary

Engine AI is an emerging entrant in the humanoid sector with a focus on natural gait, integrated joints, and a two-track product strategy: SE01 for full-size, industrial-grade scenarios and PM01/SA01 for open R&D and education. Early public demos, municipal coverage, and product pages outline a technology stack that blends end-to-end locomotion learning with serviceable hardware and developer-friendly interfaces. As deployments mature, independent evaluations of manipulation, safety, robustness, and TCO will determine the company’s standing among next-generation embodied-AI platforms.