Open-source humanoid robotics programme lets students train AI-driven behaviours in simulation, test them on physical robots, and develop practical skills through experimentation and industry collaboration.
Students are using open-source AI and physical humanoid robots to develop new robotic behaviours through the ROBOTIS Open Humanoid GYM Project. The programme combines simulation, AI training, hardware testing, and industry mentoring, allowing participants to move from virtual development to real-world robot execution.
Launched by Korean robotics company ROBOTIS, the initiative is designed to make humanoid development and physical AI more accessible to emerging researchers. Participants use the company’s AI Sapiens K1 platform and DYNAMIXEL components to experiment with humanoid motion and control.
The programme centres on the ROBOTIS Open Humanoid, an open-source platform covering hardware and software foundations for developing new humanoid capabilities. Its development environment spans mechanical design, software, simulation, motion generation, and AI-based training.
Through OH! GYM, or Open Humanoid GYM, students receive access to humanoid robots and development environments while working with industry engineers for technical guidance. Participants can first develop behaviours in simulation, including motion generation, reward functions, and control policies, before transferring them to physical machines.
Real-world testing provides performance data on successful movements and failures. Students can then refine their control policies through repeated experiments, reducing the cost and risk associated with testing every iteration directly on hardware. The workflow creates a practical development cycle covering simulation, AI training, physical execution, and data collection.
The first OH! GYM cohort ran from July 1 to August 31, bringing together teams from Gachon University, Seoul National University, Yonsei University, and SeoulTech. Projects included developing humanoid behaviours for navigating obstacles.
ROBOTIS is also developing OH! Seminar for technical knowledge sharing and OH! Challenge for competitive testing, including obstacle courses and other robotic events. Together, these initiatives aim to strengthen open collaboration and give students, researchers, and developers practical experience in advancing humanoid robotics.
