Chinese robotics developer RoboParty has released detailed manufacturing files for its RP1 humanoid robot, including designs for 14 custom printed circuit boards, expanding access to the machine’s hardware architecture while leaving questions about actuator firmware and software licensing.The publication on GitHub includes editable SolidWorks assemblies, Parasolid models, mechanical drawings, Gerber fabrication files, component placement information, wiring specifications and bills of materials. Developers can examine the designs, modify components and prepare manufacturing documentation without relying entirely on proprietary hardware specifications.
RoboParty describes RP1, also called ROBOTO 01, as a fully open-source humanoid platform intended for researchers, educational institutions and independent developers. Its documentation connects mechanical engineering, electronics, operating software, simulation and machine-learning workflows through separate repositories.
The hardware release covers 14 customised circuit boards, with manufacturing packages containing Gerber files, component lists, placement coordinates and three-dimensional models. These resources provide information needed to reproduce circuit-board layouts, although manufacturing and assembling a functioning robot still requires suitable components, specialised equipment and technical expertise.
RoboParty has placed its original hardware designs under the CERN Open Hardware Licence Version 2, Weakly Reciprocal, known as CERN-OHL-W-2.0. The licence permits modification and redistribution subject to specified conditions, including obligations concerning modified covered designs.
Documentation carries a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 licence, while third-party materials retain their existing licensing conditions. The distinction matters because publication within an open repository does not automatically remove restrictions imposed by component suppliers or other copyright holders.
The software architecture includes a Linux board-support package, USB-to-CAN-FD communication bridge firmware and tools for building software packages. A separate deployment framework provides interfaces for motors, inertial measurement units and cameras, alongside Python development tools and support for ROS 2.
Training resources incorporate NVIDIA Isaac Lab workflows for reinforcement learning, motion imitation and locomotion research. The published framework includes methods associated with adversarial motion priors, reference-motion tracking and policy deployment, allowing developers to experiment with robot behaviour in simulated environments.
However, the extent of the project's openness remains qualified. Although RoboParty publishes firmware for several subsystems, the embedded source code controlling its ROMOMO joint actuators has not been identified among the publicly available materials.
The ROMOMO documentation provides joint specifications, mechanical drawings, communication protocols and testing information. Host-side motor interfaces are also available, but these resources do not necessarily provide the complete embedded software required to inspect or modify every aspect of actuator operation.
Another restriction concerns the UFO learning framework, distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 licence. That arrangement restricts commercial exploitation without additional permission, distinguishing it from software licences that permit commercial reuse under their stated conditions.
These differences are important for companies considering whether to manufacture derivatives, integrate the technology into commercial products or incorporate the learning software into proprietary systems. Each repository and third-party component requires examination under its applicable licence.
China's data protection legislation presents a separate consideration. The Personal Information Protection Law, Data Security Law and Cybersecurity Law impose obligations according to the nature of information processed, the activities involved and the entities subject to their provisions.
An open-source licence cannot waive statutory requirements concerning personal information, data security or applicable cross-border transfers. Developers collecting identifiable images, voice recordings or other personal information through robot sensors must assess their legal responsibilities independently of permissions governing the underlying hardware and software.
The requirements are not universal prohibitions on overseas data transfers. Their application depends on factors including the data category, processing circumstances, regulatory thresholds and relevant exemptions. Publication of technical files does not itself establish that a particular deployment triggers transfer restrictions.
RoboParty's product documentation lists RP1 and RP1 Pro configurations, including variations in joint arrangements, head movement, sensing equipment and interaction capabilities. The project's repository also identifies configurations ranging from 24 to 42 degrees of freedom.
The company specifies aluminium alloys, engineering plastics and rubber components in the construction, alongside enclosed joints and emergency-stop arrangements intended to support safer operation.
Its hardware repository includes separate bills of materials for configurations using five-degree-of-freedom and seven-degree-of-freedom arrangements with a moving head. Assembly documentation also covers wiring harnesses, manufacturing requirements and individual part references.
RoboParty has not confirmed public pricing or a shipping timetable for RP1 and RP1 Pro. Its published documentation directs contributors to submit identified design errors or improvements through the relevant GitHub repositories, specifying component references and revision information where available.
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