Sirius
Limited evidenceRead the findings →A small, crowdfunded robot dog you can train, customise and program. It's aimed at tinkerers rather than families. Early demo units fell over a lot, and for now Hengbot only offers a waitlist.
Updated
See the alternatives below, or switch market.
Where it sits in Hengbot’s range
- SiriusThis model
- Sirius ProKickstarter bundle with spare battery and Bluetooth controller
- Sirius EDUAdds developer tools with C, C++ and Python access
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What we know
Two early hands-ons cover Sirius. Gizmodo had a demo unit without the shipping software, and TechRadar saw Sirius at a maker demo shortly before the first backer units shipped. Both found its movement lifelike when it stayed upright, and both saw it fall over a lot. Gizmodo couldn't get its unit onto Wi-Fi, so it never tried voice control itself. TechRadar called it an expressive experiment for developers rather than a family pet.
Gizmodo, hands-on, Jul 2025 (Demo unit, tested before launch; Tested a demo unit before launch, without the shipping software, and couldn't get it online) · TechRadar, hands-on, Dec 2025 (Seen at a maker demo before launch; A short hands-on at a maker demo, not a finished review)
It falls over, often
Both early testers noticed this first. Gizmodo spent much of its time picking Sirius up, because it tripped when steered with the controller and couldn't get back on its feet. TechRadar saw a shockingly high number of falls during the demo and blamed springy lower legs that have no motors of their own. Both used pre-launch units, so shipping software may behave differently, but that's still to be seen.
Lifelike when it's moving
When Sirius stays upright, Gizmodo thought its motors copied a real dog's movement well, and enjoyed making it jump in four directions and meow like a cat from the controller. TechRadar watched it walk, bark, growl, dance and stand on its head, and found it cute and even endearing, though nothing wowed it. Whether the look charms or unsettles you is personal, and Gizmodo found it slightly uncanny.
Voice control needs the internet
Sirius sends spoken commands to AI language models in the cloud, so it needs Wi-Fi to understand you. Gizmodo couldn't connect its demo unit, and in a live demo saw it catch some commands straight away and miss others. TechRadar notes it can recognise its owner with its camera and build a personality you can back up to the cloud. Hengbot told TechRadar it doesn't work with Google Home, Alexa or Apple Home.
Built for tinkerers, not families
TechRadar concluded it's an expressive AI experiment with a developer audience, far from a consumer-friendly pup. It found only one touch sensor, on the head, a short battery life, no self-charging and no water resistance, and didn't think it seemed very child-friendly. Gizmodo struggled to say who it was for. Per CNET, Hengbot's own pitch leans towards adults who want to create moves and personalities.
Our take
Should you buy the Sirius?
Best for: Robotics enthusiasts interested in a walking robot dog. Skip it if: You want independent evidence before committing.
wait until a reviewer has lived with a shipping unit. If you want a programmable robot dog now, Petoi's Bittle X is on sale with finished reviews, and Sony's aibo is the choice for a pet that looks after itself.
Sirius is a 25cm robot dog from Hengbot, a start-up funded on Kickstarter. It weighs under a kilo, has fourteen motors in its legs and head, a small screen for a face and a camera that can learn who you are. Spoken commands go through cloud AI language models, and you can design new moves and personalities in Hengbot's editor. The EDU version opens it up to programming in C, C++ and Python.
The early hands-on reports come from a demo unit and a maker demo before launch, and those people saw it fall over a lot. It is built for flat indoor floors, runs for under an hour while walking, has no charging dock and needs Wi-Fi for voice control. Hengbot planned first backer deliveries for late 2025, but its own store only offers a waitlist, so you cannot simply buy one.
Before you buy
The questions people ask about this one
Is it a toy, a pet or something for developers?
Closest to a development platform. TechRadar called it an expressive AI experiment for developers rather than a consumer-friendly pup, and Gizmodo couldn't work out who it was meant for. Hengbot sells an EDU version with C, C++ and Python access, per CNX Software. If you want a pet, look elsewhere for now.
Can it go outside and up stairs?
No. Hengbot says it's meant for flat indoor surfaces, not outdoor play, and it's unlikely to manage stairs, per CNET. Hengbot also told TechRadar it has no water resistance rating. Even on flat floors, both early testers saw it fall over often.
How long does the battery last?
Not long. Hengbot quotes 40 to 60 minutes while moving and 100 to 120 minutes standing still, with 50 to 60 minutes to charge, per CNX Software. TechRadar was told about 45 minutes. There's no self-charging dock, so you pick it up and plug in a USB-C cable.
Can I program it?
Yes. You can teach it moves by hand, change its face, lights and voice, and share routines with other owners, per CNX Software. Full C, C++ and Python access through ROS 2 is limited to the EDU version. TechRadar saw it controlled remotely from a PC. None of the reviews we use covers the programming tools yet.
Is it suitable for children?
Not on what we've seen so far. Hengbot says it's designed more for adults, per CNET. TechRadar didn't find it very child-friendly and warned that water could finish it off, since it has no water resistance rating. The frequent falls Gizmodo saw would also frustrate a young owner.
Alternatives
Other robot dogs to compare.
Bittle X
Why consider it: A palm-sized robot dog you can buy now, with offline voice commands and block, Python or C++ coding.
The compromise: It's a learning kit rather than a pet, and it's smaller and simpler than Sirius.
aibo ERS-1000
Why consider it: It's a robot pet first: owners love its autonomous play, ball games and the personality it develops.
The compromise: Many settings depend on Sony's cloud plan, and there's no build-it-yourself coding to learn from.
Go2 (Air / Pro)
Why consider it: A bigger walking robot dog that reviewers found moves impressively over rough ground.
The compromise: It costs far more, and reviewers struggled to say what to do with it once the novelty wore off.
Specs
Full specifications
Each specification names its source. Manufacturer claims are not independent test results; unconfirmed figures are labelled.
Owner reviews
Do you own the Sirius?
Tell people how it’s held up: cleaning, maintenance, faults and support. Owner accounts are shown separately from independent reviews.
Sources
Where this page’s findings come from
Editorial reviews
- Gizmodo: This Robot Dog Is as Good at Walking as I Am at Being a Robot Dog ↗Hands-on · Demo unit, tested before launch · Tested a demo unit before launch, without the shipping software, and couldn't get it online (not counted towards our two-review minimum)
- TechRadar: I went hands-on with Hengbot Sirius, an AI robot that left me wanting more ↗Hands-on · Seen at a maker demo before launch · A short hands-on at a maker demo, not a finished review (not counted towards our two-review minimum)
Sources
Videos
- Search YouTube for Hengbot Sirius ↗Search results may include company demonstrations or similar models. Check the source and model name; a demonstration is not an independent performance test.