LimX Dynamics Launches TRON 2: A Modular "Shapeshifter" for Embodied AI Research

A studio shot showing the modular components of the LimX Dynamics TRON 2: a central upper body with dual arms holding a green apple, flanked by a wheeled-leg chassis on the left and a bipedal leg chassis on the right. — The TRON 2's "Tri-Form" architecture allows a single core system to switch between a stationary dual-arm manipulator, a wheeled-legged robot, and a bipedal walker.

Shenzhen-based robotics manufacturer LimX Dynamics has announced the release of TRON 2, a highly modular robot designed to serve as a "Swiss Army knife" for embodied AI research.

Departing from the fixed form factors typical of the industry, the TRON 2 is defined by its "Tri-Form" configuration. It functions as a singular platform that can be physically reconfigured into three distinct modes: a bipedal walker, a wheeled-legged robot, or a stationary dual-arm manipulator.

The launch underscores LimX’s aggressive push into the education and research market, following closely on the heels of updates to their flagship humanoid, Oli. By offering a sub-$30,000 multi-modal platform, the company appears to be lowering the hardware barrier for labs working on Vision-Language-Action (VLA) models and Sim2Real deployment.

The lower body of the TRON 2 robot in its bipedal configuration, featuring articulated legs with flat feet standing on a rocky cliff edge against a mountain backdrop. — In the "Sole" configuration, the bipedal chassis utilizes visual input for motion planning, allowing it to navigate stairs and uneven terrain with a 20cm step height capacity.

The "Tri-Form" Architecture

The core value proposition of the TRON 2 is hardware versatility. While most research robots are purpose-built for either manipulation or locomotion, TRON 2 attempts to bridge the gap through modularity.

According to product details released by LimX, the robot supports three primary configurations:

Dual Arms (Stationary): A desktop or stand-mounted setup focused on fine manipulation. It features two 7-DoF (Degrees of Freedom) arms with a payload capacity of 10kg, designed for "mastering desktop tasks."
Sole Feet (Bipedal): A legged configuration that uses visual input for motion planning, capable of tasks like stair climbing and responding to terrain variations.
Wheeled Legs: A hybrid mode that combines the efficiency of wheels with the articulation of legs, supporting heavier payloads (up to 30kg in this mode) and faster movement across diverse terrains.

In a move that highlights the platform's modular nature, LimX demonstrated that the system allows users to swap limb modules to switch modes. The company describes it as a system where users can "freely configure" the setup to fit their specific mission—effectively allowing a lab to purchase one core system that acts as three different types of robots depending on the day's experiment.

The lower body of the TRON 2 robot in its wheeled-leg configuration, standing on reddish, Mars-like terrain with wheels at the end of its articulated legs. — The wheeled-leg configuration maximizes mobility and carrying capacity, reaching speeds of up to 5 m/s and supporting payloads of up to 30kg.

Focus on VLA and Data Collection

While the hardware transformation is visually striking, the TRON 2 is explicitly positioned as a software development platform. LimX is marketing the robot as an "All-In-One VLA Platform," referencing the growing trend of Vision-Language-Action models where AI interprets visual data and natural language to execute physical tasks.

The system supports a full Python development workflow, ROS1/ROS2, and open SDKs. To facilitate the transition from simulation to reality (Sim2Real), TRON 2 is compatible with major simulators including NVIDIA Isaac Sim, MuJoCo, and Gazebo.

The "EDU Edition" of the robot includes preloaded algorithms and tutorials for models like ACT and Pi0, with LimX claiming users can "Master VLA in 2 hours." This focus on "out-of-the-box" usability mirrors the simplified unboxing experience recently introduced for their larger humanoid, Oli.

The TRON 2 upper body module mounted on a black vertical stand. It features a head with RGBD cameras and two robotic arms with dexterous hands. — The stationary Dual-Arm configuration features two 7-DoF arms with a 5kg payload capacity each, designed specifically for desktop manipulation and VLA research.

Under the Hood: Technical Specifications

The official spec sheet reveals significant onboard power for the platform, particularly in the EDU edition designed for developers.

Compute: The TRON 2 EDU is powered by an 11th Gen Intel Core i7 (1165G7) processor, providing local compute for the "AI Computing Box." It includes 2TB of storage and multiple interfaces (4x ETH, 4x USB 3.0) for sensor integration.
Degrees of Freedom (DoF): The robot features high articulation with 28 active degrees of freedom in total for the full humanoid form (7 per arm, 5 per leg, 2 in the head, and 2 dexterous hands).
Sensors: The EDU version is heavily instrumented for perception, featuring RGBD cameras in the head, waist, and wrists, along with a high-precision IMU.
Mobility & Power:
- Speed: In wheeled mode, the robot can reach speeds of 3–5 m/s, while walking mode tops out at 2–3 m/s.
- Battery: A 46.8V, 9Ah ternary lithium battery supports fast charging (20–80% in 30 minutes).
- Payload: The arms are rated for a 5kg payload each (10kg total), while the wheeled chassis can haul up to 30kg.

Pricing and Availability

LimX Dynamics has confirmed pricing for the EDU Edition, which is distinct from the "Standard" version in that it includes the onboard Intel i7 compute unit, full SDK access, and the complete array of head and wrist sensors.

Dual-Arm (EDU Edition): Priced at $20,000. This version includes the stationary manipulation configuration (head, torso, and arms) but lacks mobility modules.
3-in-1 (EDU Edition): Priced at $25,000. This comprehensive kit includes the stationary setup plus the modular feet and wheels, allowing for full reconfiguration between all three modes.

The EDU edition also supports VR teleoperation (via Oculus Quest 3) and secondary development in Python/C++, features that are notably absent or restricted in the Standard commercial version.

Evolution from TRON 1

The TRON 2 represents a significant leap in complexity compared to its predecessor. The original TRON 1 was a smaller biped —somewhat reminiscent of the AT-ST walkers from Star Wars.

While the TRON 1 was later capable of being fitted with a single optional arm it remained primarily a study in balance and gait. The TRON 2 integrates the dual-arm manipulation capabilities usually reserved for full-sized humanoids like Oli, making it a more viable platform for complex mobile manipulation research.

The TRON 2 is available for order now via the LimX Dynamics website.