Open Humanoid GYM Project by ROBOTIS
A month-long robotics initiative from South Korea's ROBOTIS challenged university teams to train humanoid robots for physical tasks and stage-ready routines. The Open Humanoid GYM Project ran from July 21 to August 21 and involved students and junior researchers from Gachon University, Seoul National University, Yonsei University, and SeoulTech. Participants first designed and tested movements in a virtual environment, then moved those actions onto real machines using the Sim2Real approach. The hardware and software setup was built around the AI Sapiens K1 platform and DYNAMIXEL components. Sim2Real transfer is an increasingly important robotics practice because actions can be practiced safely in simulation before being tested in the physical world.
Process and Participant Achievements
The demonstrations showed both technical control and entertainment value. Team members successfully programmed their robots for obstacle-crossing walks, K-pop choreography, backflips, and breakdance elements. One graduate team from Gachon University focused specifically on getting a robot through an obstacle-filled route. All of these skills were first refined virtually before the robots performed them in real life.
- walking across obstacles
- dancing to K-pop choreography
- performing backflips
- doing breakdance moves
ROBOTIS also supports two related programs: OH! Seminar!, which serves as an open exchange hub for humanoid robotics knowledge, and OH! Challenge!, which arranges competitive events such as robot battles, marathon racing, obstacle courses, and soccer. Through these complementary efforts, the Open Humanoid GYM Project not only pushes forward humanoid robotics technology but also gives young researchers hands-on learning and creative room to grow.
The project's launch sends a clear signal about the value of academic-industrial cooperation in robotics. When students can apply their classroom knowledge to real engineering challenges, innovation in humanoid robots stands to benefit. In turn, the initiative could lay groundwork for future projects focusing on how robots sense, adapt to, and interact with their environment.