Mini Pi
Limited evidenceRead the findings →A knee-high research humanoid from China that walks, jumps and runs your own code. It's built for labs, classrooms and robot competition teams. It's sold direct from China, with no local dealer or service centre.
Updated
Check the manufacturer’s site for current availability.
Where it sits in HighTorque’s range
- Mini PiThis model
- Mini HiHighTorque's other small humanoid
- Mini Pi+ ProAdds a faster computer and a depth camera
Feedback
What we know
What we know comes from HighTorque: its product pages HighTorque Robotics, its online store HighTorque store and its own news posts about the robot at competitions HighTorque Robotics. They describe a small, open research humanoid that can walk, jump and play football, with an open programming kit for labs and teams. The store version adds a remote and preset routines, and HighTorque quotes about an hour of walking per charge.
Made for people who code
HighTorque pitches the Mini Pi+ at research, teaching and robot competitions, with an open programming kit and modular hardware so labs can build their own walking, grasping and whole-body control HighTorque Robotics. The store version comes with a remote control and preset dance, kung fu and football routines HighTorque store. There's nothing about household tasks. If nobody in your group writes robot software, it won't do much.
Two quite different robots
The name covers two machines. The original Mini Pi has 12 joints, all in its legs, stands 52cm tall and weighs 7kg, per HighTorque Robotics. The Mini Pi+ adds arms and a head for 22 joints, and stands 65cm tall. Confusingly, HighTorque's own description mentions 26 joints while its spec tables say 22 HighTorque store. Check exactly which version and configuration you're being quoted for.
Specs to check, and what's unproven
HighTorque's spec sheet gives the Mini Pi+ about an hour of running time at walking pace, a 5,000mAh battery and a top speed of 1.1m/s HighTorque store. The Pro version swaps in a more powerful computer and adds a depth camera. An optional gripper, waist joint and camera upgrade cost extra. Nobody outside the company has published how reliable it is, how long it really runs or how good the software is, so ask for a demonstration or documentation before committing.
Buying from overseas
HighTorque's store prices in US dollars and lists shipping to the UK, Europe, the US and Australia HighTorque store. We found no local distributor or service centre. Its news pages show Mini Pi+ units at Chinese robot sports events HighTorque Robotics, but that's the maker showing off its own robot. Budget for import charges, and assume repairs mean dealing with China directly.
Specs come from HighTorque's product pages and store, and mostly describe the Mini Pi+.
Our take
Should you buy the Mini Pi?
Best for: Robotics labs and teaching teams writing their own software. Skip it if: You need straightforward local purchasing and support.
only for labs, teachers or competition teams who plan to write the software themselves and are happy buying direct from China. For a small humanoid with more of a track record, compare Unitree's R1 or Booster's K1.
Mini Pi is a family of small walking robots from HighTorque, a Chinese company that also makes the motors inside them. The Mini Pi+ is the humanoid, about 65cm tall with arms, a head and twenty-two motorised joints. The original Mini Pi is just legs and a body. Both are aimed at people who write robot software, and HighTorque opens up the controls so you can program how it moves.
Out of the box the Mini Pi+ has a few preset routines such as dancing and football, plus a remote control, and HighTorque quotes about an hour of walking per charge. It is sold direct from the maker's online store, shipping worldwide, with no local dealers or support found. The legs-only version was sold out when checked.
Before you buy
The questions people ask about this one
Can I actually buy one?
Yes, directly from HighTorque's online store, which ships worldwide and prices in US dollars HighTorque store. When we checked, the Mini Pi+ was listed as available and the legs-only Mini Pi was sold out. We found no local dealer in the UK, Europe, the US or Australia.
What can it do on its own today?
Very little without programming. The Mini Pi+ comes with preset dance, kung fu and football routines and a remote control HighTorque store, and HighTorque says it can stand, walk and jump HighTorque Robotics. Everything else, from new movements to using its camera, depends on software you write.
What does it need to run?
A charged battery, which HighTorque rates at about an hour of walking, and its remote control HighTorque store. For development you'll need a computer and HighTorque's programming kit. The Pro version has a more powerful onboard computer and a depth camera for vision work the specifications.
Who supports it if it breaks?
HighTorque itself, as far as we can tell. Its site lists contact details and a documentation centre HighTorque Robotics, but we found no local service partners outside China. Expect to troubleshoot yourself or ship parts back, and ask about spare joints before buying.
Alternatives
Other humanoid robots to compare.
K1
Why consider it: A small humanoid built for universities, RoboCup teams and embodied-AI developers.
The compromise: The versions differ a lot, and it isn't made to run continuously all day.
R1
Why consider it: A compact humanoid sold as a development platform by a maker that ships internationally.
The compromise: It's a robotics project, and the starting version lacks much of what the demos show.
G1
Why consider it: A bigger, more established developer humanoid with its own education edition.
The compromise: What you get depends heavily on the configuration, and the full development kit costs more.
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 Mini Pi?
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
Sources
- HighTorque Robotics: Mini Pi+ humanoid robot product page ↗Manufacturer
- HighTorque Robotics: Mini Pi bipedal robot product page ↗Manufacturer
- HighTorque store: Humanoid robot Mini Pi Plus: listing and specification sheet ↗Manufacturer
- HighTorque Robotics: Sports meet highlights: Mini Pi competes in nearly ten events ↗Manufacturer
Videos
- Search YouTube for HighTorque Mini Pi ↗Search results may include company demonstrations or similar models. Check the source and model name; a demonstration is not an independent performance test.