HighTorque

HighTorque product lines

Who HighTorque is

HighTorque (High Torque Technology Co., Ltd.) is a Chinese robotics company that builds compact servo joint modules and the small humanoid robots that use them. Its About page describes it as a pioneer of desktop-level humanoid robot platforms, with a core team that has spent five years developing miniaturised joints and modular humanoids.

For OEM engineers, HighTorque is a source of small, integrated geared joints in the 2 to 20 Nm rated class, aimed at humanoids, desktop robots and light arms.

History and ownership

The website names the legal entity as High Torque Technology Co., Ltd. It does not give a founding year, address, headcount or investors. Its news pages report partnerships with Wanji Yizu and Sharebot, a debut at the 140th Canton Fair, and a full product range shown at WRC 2026, from joint actuators to complete robots. It also names Stanford University, Tsinghua University and Boston Dynamics as partners, without describing the nature of those links.

Product portfolio

HighTorque’s product page lists rated torque, reduction ratio, mass and dimensions for each module. Every module uses dual absolute encoders, so output position is known at power-up. Peak torque is given as locked-rotor torque where published.

• The HTDW joint modules come in square 44, 50, 60 and 75 mm housings with 22:1 to 36:1 reductions. They run from 2 Nm rated (HTDW-4438, 237 g) to 10 Nm rated (HTDW-6036, 565 g), and the HTDW-7535 reaches 60 Nm locked-rotor torque at 850 g.
• The HTPU ultra-thin modules are flat, force-control joints. The HTPU-6035 gives 10 Nm rated, 36 Nm locked-rotor and 52 W at 35:1. The HTPU-7033 gives 20 Nm rated, 50 Nm locked-rotor and 84 W at 33:1, only 36.9 mm thick.
• The HTCP modules use a 31:1 reduction in 44 mm (2 Nm rated) and 50 mm (4 Nm rated) housings.
• The HTPW-7507 is a 75 mm, 7:1 joint rated at 4 Nm and weighing 390 g. Its low ratio keeps it backdrivable, which suits legged robots.

The company also sells hollow joint modules, the Mini Pi and Mini Pi+ humanoids, the Panthera-HT six-axis arm, a seven-channel CAN main control box (CAN/FDCAN at 5 Mbps) and HTB24/HTB48 batteries.

Technologies

Two design choices run through the range:

• High-ratio compact joints. Ratios of 22:1 to 36:1 give high torque from small motors but make the joint harder to backdrive and more sensitive to impacts.
• Dual absolute encoders. One encoder on the motor and one on the output give absolute joint position without homing.

Voltage and bus are not stated per module on the product page, so confirm them before you design the power and network. For the trade-offs between high and low ratios, see harmonic vs planetary vs cycloidal and how to select a harmonic actuator.

Industries served

HighTorque’s own products are humanoid and desktop robots, so its joints suit small humanoids, education and research platforms, light robot arms and service robots.

Worked example: rated or locked-rotor torque?

A small humanoid’s knee needs 8 Nm continuously when crouched and 25 Nm for jumps. The HTDW-5036 (6 Nm rated, 21 Nm locked-rotor) would be overloaded continuously. The HTDW-6036 (10 Nm rated) covers the continuous load. For the jump, check its locked-rotor figure with HighTorque, or step to the HTPU-6035 (10 Nm rated, 36 Nm locked-rotor). Locked-rotor torque is a stall limit, not a running rating, so keep dynamic peaks below it.

Things that catch engineers out

• Missing figures. Speed and voltage are not published for many modules; ask before committing.
• Duty cycle. Rated torque in small joints is often thermally limited; test at your duty and ambient temperature.
• Bus loading. Many joints on one CAN bus limit the update rate per joint.

How HighTorque joints compare with larger actuators

HighTorque’s modules sit below the 20 to 100 Nm joint actuators used in full-size humanoids and cobots. As a rule of thumb, a joint’s rated torque should cover the worst static pose with margin, and its peak should cover the dynamic events. When a design outgrows the HTPU-7033’s 20 Nm rating, the next step is usually a larger integrated actuator or a frameless motor with a strain-wave gear; see frameless motor sizing for robot joints.

Global and UK presence

HighTorque lists no overseas offices or UK distributors. UK buyers can enquire through its website. For production projects, ask about English documentation, CE or UKCA paperwork, firmware control and lead times.

What to send when specifying a joint module

Send the continuous and peak joint torque, speed, supply voltage, backlash and backdrivability needs, the bus and update rate, mass and envelope limits, and the environment.

Specify Motion is independent of HighTorque and is not a distributor for the company. Our engineers can help source HighTorque modules or propose equivalents from our supply network on published figures; see find a replacement or the servo and stepper motors hub.

HighTorque harmonic actuators

Integrated robot joint actuator

HTDW servo joint modules

Compact geared joint modules with dual absolute encoders in 44 to 75 mm square housings, from 2 Nm rated (HTDW-4438, 30:1) to 10 Nm rated (HTDW-6036, 36:1) and up to 60 Nm locked-rotor torque (HTDW-7535).

Integrated robot joint actuator

HTPU ultra-thin joint modules

Flat joint modules with dual absolute encoders: HTPU-6035 at 10 Nm rated / 36 Nm locked-rotor (35:1, 52 W) and HTPU-7033 at 20 Nm rated / 50 Nm locked-rotor (33:1, 84 W, 36.9 mm thick).

Integrated robot joint actuator

HTCP joint modules

44 and 50 mm joint modules with 31:1 reduction and dual absolute encoders, rated at 2 Nm (HTCP-4531) and 4 Nm (HTCP-5031).

Integrated robot joint actuator

HTPW-7507

Low-ratio (7:1) 75 mm joint module with dual encoders, rated at 4 Nm, weighing 390 g; suited to backdrivable legged-robot joints.