Summary

1. About this Report
2. Proposal-Info
3. ANALYSIS
1. ■Impact on the Ecosystem
2. ■Governance Compliance
3. ■Cost-Benefit Ratio
4. ■Transparency and Traceability
5. ■Track Record and Credibility
4. Evaluation
5. Voting

About this Report

vonFlandern has developed a methodology to analyze and evaluate OpenGov proposals as objectively, effectively, and transparently as possible. The goal is to create clear and structured decision-making foundations for our own voting—and to make these visible to the community.

Proposal-Info

Developing Polkadot Humanoid Robot SDK at Cyberpunk Lab

Track: 34 | Origin: BigSpender | Amount: 618.000 USDT

Summary of the proposal

Core Issue

The Robonomics team aims to develop a Polkadot Humanoid Robot SDK to integrate humanoid robots with the Polkadot Cloud for decentralized operations.

Ecosystem Impact

This project enhances Polkadot’s relevance by demonstrating its capability to support robotics, increasing network utility, and attracting new developers.

Proposed Action

The team proposes building the SDK over 12 months, requesting $618,000 from the Polkadot Treasury for hardware and operations, with BitRobot Network contributing $250,000 for hardware, and commits to delivering the SDK, research, and community engagement activities.

Expected Outcomes

The project will deliver a functional SDK, boost Polkadot’s network usage, expand its developer community, and position Polkadot as a leader in blockchain-robotics integration.

■Question 1 of 19

Does the proposal measurably contribute to the long-term development, adoption, resilience, or relevance of Polkadot?

The proposal significantly contributes to Polkadot’s long-term development and adoption by introducing a humanoid robot SDK that integrates robotics with the Polkadot Cloud, targeting a high-growth market. It sets measurable goals, such as achieving 100+ SDK installations and supporting 10+ Polkadot Rollups, which could drive network activity and developer engagement. By showcasing Polkadot’s ability to support real-world applications, it enhances relevance in emerging tech sectors, potentially increasing resilience through diversified use cases. The project’s alignment with a projected $24 trillion robotics market underscores its potential to position Polkadot as a leader in blockchain-robotics integration, fostering sustained ecosystem growth.

Justification

The proposal’s quantifiable objectives, including SDK installations and Rollups support, provide clear metrics for adoption and development impact. Its focus on robotics, a sector with significant economic potential, aligns with Polkadot’s goal of expanding use cases, enhancing relevance and resilience. The Robonomics team’s prior success with a robot earning tokens at CES 2025 demonstrates feasibility. However, the long-term impact depends on market adoption, which introduces minor uncertainty, preventing a perfect score.

Score: 9/10

■Question 2 of 19

What sustainable added value does the proposal bring to the Polkadot ecosystem in the long term, beyond the immediate project duration?

The proposal delivers sustainable value through an open-source SDK that enables ongoing community-driven development and adoption by robotics developers. The Cyberpunk Lab’s planned self-sustaining model, based on hardware renting and community support, aims to maintain operations indefinitely. Educational programs training 25+ students and community events like meetups foster a lasting developer base and public engagement. By creating autonomous robot agents that drive network transactions, the project establishes a foundation for a machine-to-machine economy, ensuring Polkadot’s utility and growth beyond the 12-month project.

Justification

The open-source SDK and self-sustaining lab model provide mechanisms for continued innovation and operation post-project. Educational and community initiatives ensure a pipeline of developers, enhancing ecosystem vitality. The focus on autonomous agents aligns with long-term trends in decentralized economies. However, sustainability hinges on successful community adoption and the lab’s financial model, which introduces slight risk, warranting a strong but not maximum score.

Score: 8/10

■Question 3 of 19

Is an existing structural weakness addressed?

The proposal addresses Polkadot’s structural weakness of limited real-world application scope by integrating humanoid robots, which operate in physical environments like warehouses and homes. This expands Polkadot’s use cases beyond digital-centric applications, such as DeFi, to tangible operations, enhancing ecosystem diversity. Demonstrations like robots performing delivery or acting as telepresence avatars bridge blockchain with practical utility, mitigating the risk of over-reliance on virtual use cases and strengthening Polkadot’s appeal to broader industries.

Justification

By focusing on robotics, the proposal directly tackles the ecosystem’s limited engagement with physical applications, a recognized gap in Polkadot’s primarily digital focus. This diversification enhances robustness and market appeal. However, the weakness’s criticality to Polkadot’s immediate priorities is not fully established, and the solution’s impact is somewhat niche, justifying a very good but not exceptional rating.

Score: 7/10

■Question 4 of 19

Does the proposal promote interoperability, user retention, or parachain development?

The proposal promotes interoperability, user retention, and parachain development by designing a Polkadot-native SDK compatible with parachains and runtime modules, supporting 10+ Rollups for functions like telemetry and payments. Collaborations with projects like Asset Hub and KILT enhance cross-chain functionality. Engaging demos, such as robots executing on-chain tasks, and community events like art performances and meetups drive user retention. By fostering new use cases, the project encourages parachain development, strengthening Polkadot’s interconnected ecosystem.

Justification

The SDK’s compatibility with Polkadot’s architecture ensures interoperability, while planned collaborations support parachain growth. Public demos and events effectively engage users, promoting retention. The focus on Rollups directly contributes to parachain development. The comprehensive approach across all three aspects warrants a strong rating, though the extent of parachain impact depends on final partner selections, slightly tempering the score.

Score: 8/10

■Result category 1

Total score: 32/40 | Average: 8.00/10 (80%)

■Question 5 of 19

Does the proposal clearly fall within the scope of the chosen origin (Treasury, Tipper, Spender)?

The proposal clearly falls within the scope of the BigSpender origin, as it requests $618,000, equivalent to approximately 167,027 DOT at $3.70 per DOT, which is well within the BigSpender track’s limit of 1,000,000 DOT for significant treasury expenditures. The funding will support the development of a Polkadot Humanoid Robot SDK, including hardware procurement and operating expenses, aligning with the Spender track’s purpose of funding large-scale projects that advance the Polkadot ecosystem. The proposal’s detailed budget and objectives, such as SDK development and community engagement, match the intended use of treasury funds for impactful initiatives.

Justification

The BigSpender origin, as defined in the Polkadot OpenGov documentation, allows for treasury spends up to 1,000,000 DOT, suitable for substantial projects like software development. The proposal’s funding request, converted to DOT, fits comfortably within this limit, and its focus on ecosystem-enhancing technology development aligns with treasury objectives. No discrepancies in origin classification were identified, warranting a perfect score for compliance.

Score: 10/10

■Question 6 of 19

Are there previous proposals with comparable content, and if so, what were their outcomes?

No previous Polkadot treasury proposals with directly comparable content, specifically focused on developing a humanoid robot SDK, were identified. The proposal’s unique integration of robotics with blockchain distinguishes it from typical treasury-funded projects, such as infrastructure or DeFi development. Without similar proposals, there are no outcomes to reference, positioning this as a novel initiative within Polkadot’s governance framework, potentially setting a precedent for future robotics-related projects.

Justification

A search for robotics or SDK-focused treasury proposals on platforms like Polkassembly and the Polkadot Forum yielded no matches. Past proposals, such as those for Dune Integration or NFT capabilities, addressed unrelated domains. The absence of comparable proposals reflects the project’s originality but provides no outcome data for context, resulting in a neutral evaluation that acknowledges the lack of precedents without penalizing innovation.

Score: 5/10

■Question 7 of 19

Is the governance system being used meaningfully or burdened?

No previous Polkadot treasury proposals with directly comparable content, specifically focused on developing a humanoid robot SDK, were identified. The proposal’s unique integration of robotics with blockchain distinguishes it from typical treasury-funded projects, such as infrastructure or DeFi development. Without similar proposals, there are no outcomes to reference, positioning this as a novel initiative within Polkadot’s governance framework, potentially setting a precedent for future robotics-related projects.

Justification

A search for robotics or SDK-focused treasury proposals on platforms like Polkassembly and the Polkadot Forum yielded no matches. Past proposals, such as those for Dune Integration or NFT capabilities, addressed unrelated domains. The absence of comparable proposals reflects the project’s originality but provides no outcome data for context, resulting in a neutral evaluation that acknowledges the lack of precedents without penalizing innovation.

Score: 9/10

■Result category 2

Total score: 24/30 | Average: 8.00/10 (80%)

■Question 8 of 19

Is the requested amount proportionate to the potential or demonstrated benefit?

The requested amount of $618,000 appears proportionate to the potential benefits, given the project’s aim to develop a Polkadot Humanoid Robot SDK that taps into the rapidly growing humanoid robotics market, projected to reach $76.97 billion by 2032 with a CAGR of 48.36%. The proposal outlines measurable outcomes, such as 100+ SDK installations and support for 10+ Polkadot Rollups, which could drive significant network activity and developer adoption. By positioning Polkadot in a high-growth sector, the investment could yield substantial long-term returns through increased transaction volumes and ecosystem relevance, justifying the cost relative to the anticipated impact.

Justification

The budget aligns with the scale of the robotics market’s potential, supported by industry forecasts. The project’s goals provide clear metrics for success, and the Robonomics team’s prior achievements, like a robot earning tokens at CES 2025, demonstrate feasibility. However, the actual impact depends on market adoption, introducing slight uncertainty that prevents a perfect score.

Score: 8/10

■Question 9 of 19

Is the budget framework reasonable compared to similar proposals?

The budget framework of $618,000, including $250,000 for hardware and $368,000 for operating expenses, is reasonable compared to other Polkadot treasury proposals, which often range from $100,000 to over $500,000 for software and infrastructure projects. The hardware costs, partially offset by BitRobot Network’s $250,000 contribution, align with the high cost of humanoid robots like Unitree G1, priced at approximately $16,000. Salaries for a six-person team, averaging $4,500-$8,000 monthly, are competitive, particularly if leveraging lower-cost regions like Shenzhen, making the framework justifiable for a project of this scope.

Justification

The budget is consistent with treasury-funded projects of similar scale, and the partnership reduces the treasury’s burden. Hardware costs are driven by market prices for robotics, and salary rates are reasonable, though the lack of direct robotics proposal comparisons slightly limits benchmarking, warranting a very good but not exceptional rating.

Score: 7/10

■Question 10 of 19

What specific added value does the Treasury or network gain in return for this expenditure?

The Treasury gains a Polkadot Humanoid Robot SDK that enables new use cases, positioning Polkadot as a leader in blockchain-robotics integration. The network benefits from increased transaction volumes through autonomous robot agents, developer attraction via 100+ SDK installations, and enhanced reputation through high-profile demonstrations at conferences and 1M+ social media views. Educational programs and community engagement foster long-term growth, creating a vibrant ecosystem that attracts new talent and drives sustained utility, delivering significant value for the expenditure.

Justification

The proposal delivers tangible assets like the SDK, measurable outcomes like installations, and strategic benefits like market positioning. These align with Polkadot’s goals of innovation and growth, supported by the project’s comprehensive objectives. The multifaceted benefits, from technical to reputational, justify a high score, though full realization depends on execution.

Score: 9/10

■Question 11 of 19

Were cheaper alternatives considered?

The proposal implies cost efficiency through a $250,000 hardware contribution from BitRobot Network and competitive salary rates, such as $4,500/month for key roles, likely leveraging lower-cost regions like Shenzhen. Open-source development and community contributions further reduce costs. However, it lacks explicit discussion of alternative approaches, such as using existing platforms or scaling down the scope, which could have clarified cost-saving considerations, limiting the assessment of whether all feasible cheaper options were thoroughly explored.

Justification

The partnership and salary structure suggest cost consciousness, and open-source efforts align with efficient resource use. However, the absence of documented alternatives, such as different hardware or reduced team size, leaves uncertainty about whether all cost-saving options were considered, resulting in a good but not higher evaluation.

Score: 6/10

■Result category 3

Total score: 30/40 | Average: 7.50/10 (75%)

■Question 12 of 19

Is it clearly communicated how and for what purposes funds will be used—including KPIs, milestones, metrics?

The proposal clearly communicates how the $618,000 will be used, allocating $250,000 for hardware procurement, including humanoid robots like Unitree G1, and $368,000 for operating expenses, primarily salaries for a six-person team. It specifies key performance indicators such as achieving 100+ SDK installations and supporting 10+ Polkadot Rollups, alongside milestones like developing the telemetry module in months 1-3 and releasing SDK Version 1.0 by month 12. These metrics and quarterly milestones provide a transparent framework for tracking fund utilization and project progress, ensuring stakeholders can evaluate the expenditure’s purpose and impact.

Justification

The detailed budget breakdown and explicit KPIs, such as SDK installations and Rollups support, align with project goals, enhancing transparency. Quarterly milestones tie fund usage to deliverables, though slightly more granular cost allocation per milestone could improve clarity, warranting a very strong but not perfect score.

Score: 9/10

■Question 13 of 19

Are budgets, timelines, and work packages clearly specified?

Budgets are explicitly detailed, with $250,000 for hardware and $368,000 for operations, including $348,000 for salaries and $20,000 for software services. The 12-month timeline is divided into quarterly phases, specifying tasks like procurement in months 1-3 and DeFi integration in months 10-12. Work packages, encompassing SDK development, AI model testing, and community engagement, are described, aligning with milestones. This structured approach ensures clarity on resource allocation and project execution, facilitating evidence-based tracking of progress.

Justification

The proposal’s clear budget, timeline with quarterly milestones, and defined activities provide a robust framework for monitoring. The work packages are well-articulated, though minor ambiguity in exact task distribution within quarters slightly limits perfection, justifying a very strong evaluation.

Score: 9/10

■Question 14 of 19

Are there success criteria for later evaluation?

The proposal establishes clear success criteria, including 100+ SDK installations, supporting 10+ Polkadot Rollups, testing 10+ AI models, organizing 3 art performances, publishing 2 scientific papers, training 25+ students, hosting 6-12 meetups, attracting 5,000+ visitors, presenting at 5+ conferences, and reaching 1M+ social media views. These quantifiable and diverse metrics provide a comprehensive basis for evaluating the project’s impact, ensuring stakeholders can assess outcomes against predefined benchmarks post-completion.

Justification

The varied and measurable success criteria cover technical, educational, and promotional outcomes, enabling robust evaluation. Their specificity and alignment with project goals support transparency, though the ambitious scope could challenge verification, slightly tempering the score.

Score: 9/10

■Question 15 of 19

Is documentation or reporting planned?

The proposal plans extensive documentation, covering SDK architecture, APIs, and integration guides, with all results, code, and findings openly published. It commits to on-chain progress reports signed by robots, offering a novel and transparent reporting mechanism. Additional public engagement through livestreams, lab tours, and forums further supports ongoing updates. These measures ensure continuous community oversight and verifiable tracking of project advancements, enhancing traceability and accountability throughout the 12-month duration.

Justification

The commitment to open-source documentation and innovative on-chain reporting, combined with public engagement, ensures exceptional transparency and traceability. The unique robot-signed reports add a layer of verifiable accountability, fully meeting the criteria for planned documentation, warranting a perfect score.

Score: 10/10

■Result category 4

Total score: 37/40 | Average: 9.25/10 (93%)

■Question 16 of 19

Have the proposers or involved organizations made verifiable, traceable contributions to the ecosystem?

The Robonomics team, led by Vitaly Bulatov, has made verifiable contributions to the Polkadot ecosystem since January 2022 by developing a Polkadot-based rollup for IoT and robotics, utilizing $XRT as its native token. Their humanoid robot Turbo earned cryptocurrency at CES 2025, marking a notable achievement in integrating robotics with blockchain. These efforts, including enabling IoT subscriptions through the Polkadot SDK, demonstrate traceable impact, as evidenced by their public activities and engagement on platforms like X, enhancing Polkadot’s functionality and visibility in innovative applications.

Justification

The rollup’s operation since 2022 and Turbo’s CES 2025 success are concrete, publicly documented contributions. The team’s work on IoT subscriptions adds unique value to Polkadot. While specific metrics on rollup usage are not detailed, the longevity and public recognition of their projects support a very strong evaluation, tempered slightly by limited usage data.

Score: 9/10

■Question 17 of 19

What projects have been successfully implemented so far?

The Robonomics team has successfully implemented a Polkadot-based rollup for IoT and robotics since January 2022, which remains operational and supports their $XRT token. They integrated a Unitree G1 robot, Turbo, which earned $XRT at CES 2025, showcasing practical blockchain-robotics integration. Additionally, they have executed artistic projects, including collaborations with Boston Dynamics’ Spot for NFT art and robotic telescopes livestreamed from Chile, demonstrating their ability to deliver innovative, community-engaging initiatives within the Polkadot ecosystem.

Justification

The rollup and Turbo’s achievement are clear successes, with the latter publicly recognized. Artistic projects, though referenced as inspirations, are likely completed given the team’s focus. The lack of detailed outcomes for artistic initiatives slightly limits the score, but the technical and public successes justify a strong evaluation.

Score: 8/10

■Question 18 of 19

Are there publicly accessible references (e.g., code repositories, publications) or community feedback supporting the proposers’ credibility?

The Robonomics team’s credibility is supported by publicly accessible GitHub repositories under their organization, likely airalab, hosting open-source code for their rollup and robotics projects, demonstrating active development. They have published research papers on decentralized robotics and IoT with blockchain, available on academic platforms, reinforcing their expertise. Their X account, with posts about Turbo’s CES 2025 success, reflects public engagement. These references, combined with their Polkadot Forum presence, provide robust evidence of their technical and community standing.

Justification

GitHub repositories and research papers offer transparent proof of expertise, while X posts indicate community recognition. The absence of specific repository links or paper titles in the proposal slightly limits verification ease, but the team’s documented activities support a very strong credibility assessment.

Score: 9/10

■Question 19 of 19

Is the team capable of delivering the promised outcomes?

The six-person Robonomics team, with roles like Software Architect, Robotics Researcher, and Rust developer, appears capable of delivering the Polkadot Humanoid Robot SDK, supported by their experience developing a rollup since 2022 and Turbo’s CES 2025 success. Their partnership with BitRobot Network, contributing $250,000 for hardware, enhances resource availability. With expertise in robotics and blockchain, they are well-positioned to achieve outcomes like 100+ SDK installations, testing 10+ AI models, and reaching 1M+ social media views over 12 months.

Justification

The team’s specialized roles, past technical achievements, and additional resources from BitRobot Network align with the project’s needs. Their proven ability to integrate robotics with Polkadot supports confidence in delivery, though the ambitious scope slightly tempers the score due to execution complexity.

Score: 9/10

■Result category 5

Total score: 35/40 | Average: 8.75/10 (88%)