HRP-4

A blue and white bipedal robot that appears to be cartoonish yet humanoid shaped and wearing a helmet, poses with its arm flexed.
HRP-4's sleek body is powered by more than 30 motors. Photo: Kawada Industries/AIST

HRP-4 is one of the world's most advanced humanoids, the culmination of a decade of R&D. It's designed to collaborate with humans and can perform remarkably natural, human-like movements.

Creators

Kawada Industries and AIST

Year
2010
Country
Japan 🇯🇵
Categories
Features

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The blue and white humanoid robot is balanced on one foot, and has both it's arms spread out to the sides.
Balancing on one foot is not a problem for HRP-4. Photo: Kawada Industries/AIST

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Did you know?

HRP-4 became a YouTube sensation when it was first demonstrated in 2010.

The robot grips a soda bottle in one had, and a cup in the other.
The robot is designed to manipulate everyday objects. Photo: Kawada Industries/AIST

History

HRP-4 is the latest model in the HRP series of robots, the result of a lasting collaboration between Kawada Industries, led by Tadahiro Kawada, and Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), headed by Tamotsu Nomakuchi. HRP-4 follows the development of HRP-2 in 2002 and HRP-3 in 2006. In this project, engineers from Kawada focused on the humanoid robot hardware while the AIST researchers (including Kazuhito Yokoi, leader of the Humanoid Research Group, and Fumio Kanehiro, a senior researcher) developed the motion-control software. The goal was to make the new humanoid lighter (and therefore safer for human interaction) and yet more capable than previous generations, both in terms of manipulating objects and navigating human environments. The final design was unveiled in September 2010.

A rear view shows the robots backpack with a display screen, which it is reaching a hand back to touch.
A neat trick is that it can reach its own backpack. Photo: Kawada Industries/AIST

Specs

Overview

Compact, lightweight design. Able to lift 0.5 kg (1.1 lb) with each arm. Equipped with low-power motors for improved safety.

Status

Ongoing

Year

2010

Website
Height
151 cm
Weight
39 kg
Sensors

Cameras (in the head and arms), microphones.

Actuators

80-W motors and lower power motors

Degrees of Freedom (DoF)
34 (Leg: 6 DoF x 2; Neck: 2 DoF; Chest: 2 DoF; Arm: 7 DoF x 2; Hand: 2 DoF x 2)
Materials

Plastic covers, aluminum alloy frame.

Compute

PC/104 Pentium M computer with Wi-Fi and speakers.

Software

Linux OS with RT-PreemptPatch and OpenRTM-aist middleware.

Cost
$300,000