HRP-2

A bipedal humanoid robot with a blue, silver, black and yellow exterior and the appearance of wearing a helmet is posed standing with its arms and gripper fingers ready to act. — HRP-2 uses 30 motors to move its legs, arms, head, and waist. Photo: Kawada Industries/AIST

HRP-2 is a popular research humanoid with a deliberately futuristic look. It can cooperate with humans in lifting heavy objects, walk on uneven surfaces, and even get up by itself if it falls over.

Creators

Kawada Industries and AIST

Year

2002

Country

Japan 🇯🇵

Categories

Features

Overview of HRP-2 and HRP-3 (in Japanese). Video: AIST

Did you know?

HRP-2's exterior was created by Yutaka Izubuchi, a designer famous for his anime robots.

The humanoid robot is in a pistol squat position as it balances on one bent leg, with the other outstretched in front of it. — The robot can sit and stand up. Photo: Kawada Industries/AIST

The bipedal robot is positioned on all fours so it can go under a horizontal bar. Two pointed pieces which look like overly large cat ears protrude from it's head. — It can crawl through tight spaces. Photo: Toshifumi Kitamura/AFP/Getty Images

History

HRP-2 (also known as "Promet") is the second generation 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-2 was announced in 2002 and was followed by HRP-3 in 2006 and HRP-4 in 2010.

The humanoid robot balances with one foot in front of the other on a thin wooden plant. — And it can balance and walk on uneven surfaces. Photo: Kawada Industries/AIST

Close-up of the robot wearing an apron and oven mitts as it pours from a bottle into a cup. — And when all of its work is done, it will serve you tea. Photo: Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters

More Images

A different view of the robot shows an uncovered head with many cameras. — At the University of Tokyo, this HRP-2 got a new head. Photo: Erico Guizzo

Close-up shows a chunkier robot hand compared to the prior version. — And a new hand, too. Photo: Erico Guizzo

Specs

Overview: Open architecture and powerful simulation tools. Equipped with a "cantilevered crotch joint" for walking in confined spaces.
Status: Ongoing
Year: 2002
Website: kawadarobot.co.jp
Width: 65.4 cm
Height: 154 cm
Length: 33.7 cm
Weight: 58 kg
Speed: 2 km/h
Sensors: Three cameras, three-axis gyro, three-axis accelerometer, 30 motor encoders, six-axis force sensors in the arms and legs.
Actuators: 30 DC motors
Degrees of Freedom (DoF): 30 (Head: 2 DoF; Arm: 6 DoF x 2; Hand: 1 DoF x 2; Waist: 2 DoF; Leg: 6 DoF x 2)
Compute: Two CPU boards
Software: Linux OS
Power: 48-V 14.8-Ah nickel-metal hydride battery