Roboy

A child-like skeletal robot sits on a block. It's musculature and electronics are exposed. Its head is egg shaped with glowing blue eyes and mouth.
Good behavior earns Roboy a cookie. Photo: University of Zurich's AI Lab

Roboy is a humanoid robot designed as a platform for robotics research, in particular humanlike musculoskeletal actuation. It's open source, and its body is 3D-printed and easy to reproduce.

Creator

University of Zurich

Year
2013
Country
Switzerland 🇨🇭
Categories
Features
Roboy feels good. Video: Zurich University of the Arts

More videos

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Appearance

Neutral

Did you know?

Roboy moves using artificial muscles and tendons much like those of humans.

The robot is seen in the dark so that its blue eyes and red lips glow.
Robots can kiss, too. Photo: University of Zurich's AI Lab
Close-up of the robots glowing pink eyes and downturned mouth.
Roboy is mad. Roboy wants another cookie. Photo: University of Zurich's AI Lab

More Images

The robots expression appears happy.
Roboy is not sad anymore. Photo: University of Zurich's AI Lab
Close-up of the robots torso with skeletal and musculature exposed.
Roboy's body uses artificial tendons and muscles. Photo: University of Zurich's AI Lab
The robots leg has exposed electronics and a circuit board.
The robot's actuation systems mimic those of humans. Photo: University of Zurich's AI Lab

Specs

Overview

Open hardware and software. Human-like muscle and tendon structures. Able to understand speech and detect faces.

Status

Inactive

Year

2013

Website
Width
50.7 cm
Height
142 cm
Sensors

Two cameras and one microphone in the head. Force/tension sensors in most of the 48 motors.

Actuators

48 brushless DC motors

Degrees of Freedom (DoF)
28 (Head: 3 DoF; Spine and chest: 3 DoF; Arm: 6 DoF x 2; Hand: 1 DoF x 2; Hip and leg: 4 DoF x 2)
Materials

3D-printed parts for most of the body.

Compute

Intel-based main computer (on-board mini PC or external PC); 48 ARM-based controller boards for motors.

Software

Ubuntu OS, Festival, OpenCV, MPlayer, and custom software in C++.

Power

Standard power supply or batteries.

Cost
$500,000 (total project costs; $120,000 estimated to reproduce robot)