The world's first boxing robot - What's special about Robot T800?

EngineAI is creating hype for its new flagship humanoid robot, the T800, by releasing a CGI teaser video that shows the robot in various poses, including a combat stance. The video, which ends with the words '敬请期待众擎 T800' (literally translated as 'Stay tuned, Zhongqing T800'), leans into a strong, ' combat-ready ' marketing angle, which sets it apart from the industry's usual trends in logistics and manufacturing.

According to information released at the World Robot Conference 2025, the T800 is a  full-sized humanoid robot designed for heavy-duty tasks. The T800 robot is said to be 1.85 meters (6 ft 1 in) tall, weighs 85 kg (187 lbs), and is equipped with 41 high degrees of freedom (DOF) joints, a solid-state battery, and an aluminum alloy shell for enhanced structural resilience.

The T800 is also expected to be the key robot model participating in the "Robot Boxer" freestyle competition, an event organized by EngineAI and scheduled to take place on December 24.

Dual Strategy: Fighter and Bartender

Focusing on combat when designing robots is not new for EngineAI, which was founded in late 2023. The company is also organizing the "Mecha King" tournament, another boxing event scheduled for December in Shenzhen.

While the ' combat ' angle may seem like just a show, EngineAI and other companies in the industry see these intense competitions as a valuable way to accelerate R&D. The company has stated that such events test the physical and intellectual limits of full-sized humanoid robots, with the goal of fostering stronger, more agile, and smarter robots that can eventually be deployed in industrial, service, and medical fields.

This robust R&D effort is being accompanied by a surprisingly pragmatic, public-facing commercial strategy. In a move that seems almost the complete opposite of a robot brawl, EngineAI recently deployed its humanoid robots as 'Network Agents' at a new retail store in Shenzhen. The store, a joint venture with e-commerce giant JD.com, uses robots to sell trendy consumer goods, serving as a real-world test of their ability to operate safely and efficiently in a human-centric environment.

From viral performances to retail employees

This 'dual' approach—combining impressive demonstrations with solid commercial deployments—is becoming a signature brand for EngineAI. The company has a history of 'viral' demonstrations, such as the PM01 robot performing a front flip and a viral interaction with the IShowSpeed ​​livestreamer.

The strategy supports an ambitious roadmap. The company, which already produces several robotics platforms, aims to produce nearly 1,000 robots this year and has been open about its ultimate goal: getting robots into homes to help with housework.

The T800 teaser , with its " not-so-subtle nods " to the Terminator, seems to be the next step in this strategy. It uses the image of a " fighting " robot to attract attention, while the technology developed for its dynamic stabilization will likely be directed directly at the less flashy but commercially important " cyber workers " and housekeepers of the future.

Jessica Tanner

Update 08 December 2025