Roboy

Name: Roboy
Rating: 2.6 (1429 reviews)

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

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: roboy.org
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)