Leonardo

A seated furry robot with big brown eyes, a dog-like face with a black nose and teeth, and protruding ears. It's body is covered in white and brown fur and it has hands with four fingers. — Leonardo wants to be your friend. Photo: Paula Aguilera/MIT

Leonardo is one of the most sophisticated social robots ever built. It is designed to be expressive and communicative, and its AI system allows it to learn from natural interactions with people.

Creators

MIT Media Lab and Stan Winston Studios

Year

2002

Country

United States 🇺🇸

Categories

Research

Features

MediaLab at night. — MediaLab at night. Video: Leonardo Bonanni

More videos

Did you know?

Its creators wanted a name that embodied art, science, and invention, so they chose "Leonardo" after Leonardo da Vinci.

Nine images each showing a furry robot making a different face, some happy, others sad, against a dark background. — Leonardo makes faces. Photo: MIT

A view of the robot without its fur shows exposed electronics. Leonardo holds a yellow ball in its hand. — Leo sans fur. Photo: Sam Ogden/Science Source

More Images

Close-up of the robot's human-like, but four fingered and furry hand. — Leonardo's hairy hand. Photo: MIT

Close-up of Leonardo's furry face and big brown eyes. — "I can smell you, human." Photo: MIT

Specs

Overview: Equipped with visual and learning systems based on infant psychology. Capable of tracking faces and objects and recognizing people.
Status: Inactive
Year: 2002
Website: robots.media.mit.edu/portfolio/leonardo
Height: 76.2 cm
Sensors: Camera in the right eye. Tactile sensors in the palm, back, and side of the hand.
Actuators: 60 motors
Degrees of Freedom (DoF): 69 (Face: 32 DoF; Body: 37 DoF)
Software: Custom software