Cinnamon 1 is a bipedal humanoid from Japan's Donut Robotics, announced in January 2026. It stands about 170 cm and weighs about 70 kg, and pairs an overseas OEM body with Donut's own AI, including gesture-based control. The company is targeting construction sites and factories first.
History and launch
Donut Robotics announced Cinnamon 1 on January 24, 2026, calling it the first mass-produced bipedal humanoid under a Japanese brand and the first humanoid controlled by gestures ("Silent Gesture Control"). In July 2026 it was demonstrated for 12 minutes live on Yomiuri TV's "News Zigzag".
The name follows the company's earlier "cinnamon" robot, which was installed at airports and care facilities, but Cinnamon 1 is an entirely different full-size biped. In April 2026 Donut showed a smaller cinnamon mini, and it has announced cinnamon 2 for autumn 2026.
Hardware and software
Donut's product page gives about 170 cm and about 70 kg. The company says openly that the body comes from an overseas OEM and Donut supplies the AI, with fully Japanese hardware and software planned. CEO Taisuke Ono argues that humanoid bodies are becoming commodities and the control model matters most.
The robot carries a vision-language model (VLM), and Donut is building its own VLA (vision-language-action) model to turn instructions into motion. Its signature feature is gesture control, letting an operator direct it with hand movements instead of voice.
Applications
Donut is targeting construction sites and factories first, and its product page says the robot is already used by large companies, without naming them. In October 2025 it formed a capital and business alliance with MBS to robotise construction sites, and TV Tokyo's "Gaia no Yoake" followed its humanoid work for infrastructure for about a year.
Manufacturer
Donut Robotics started in a garage in Kitakyushu in 2014 and incorporated in 2016; it is now headquartered in Tokyo Midtown, Minato. It joined the Haneda Airport robot project in 2017, exhibited at CES in 2022 and received an EY Innovative Startup award in 2024. CEO is Taisuke Ono, and the team includes a former head of SoftBank Robotics' humanoid business and a former Honda engineer.
Price and availability
Donut does not publish a price for Cinnamon 1. For reference, its cinnamon Guide service robot sells for 2.2 million yen or from 62,000 yen a month.
Timeline
- 2014 Donut Robotics founded in Kitakyushu
- 2025-10 Capital alliance with MBS for construction robotics
- 2026-01 Cinnamon 1 announced
- 2026-04 Smaller cinnamon mini shown at Sushi Tech 2026
- 2026-09 cinnamon 2 announced for autumn 2026
Sources
- Products (cinnamon 1, cinnamon Guide), Donut Robotics (2026-10)
- About Us, Donut Robotics (2026-10)
- News feed (Cinnamon 1 announcement, cinnamon mini, cinnamon 2), Donut Robotics (2026-10-06)
- Appeared on Yomiuri TV's News Zigzag, Donut Robotics (2026-07-05)
Updated: 2026-10-10
Verification and limitations
This entry requires an up-to-date manufacturer specification check.
MERA field measurement report: not published. Demonstration footage and manufacturer specifications are not a MERA test under event conditions.
Data and provenance for AI agents ↗Compared with the catalogue
- It is the only Donut Robotics model in the catalogue and one of 4 humanoids from Japan.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cinnamon 1 a small robot for schools?
No. Cinnamon 1 is a full-size humanoid (about 170 cm, 70 kg) for construction and factories; the smaller model is cinnamon mini.
Is Cinnamon 1 fully Japanese?
No. The body comes from an overseas OEM and Donut provides the AI; a fully Japanese build is planned.
What is Silent Gesture Control?
Controlling the robot with hand gestures rather than voice commands.
How much does Cinnamon 1 cost?
The price is not published.
How much does the Donut Robotics Cinnamon 1 cost?
The manufacturer has not published a price for the Donut Robotics Cinnamon 1. You can send a purchase enquiry through MERA Robotics.
Is the Donut Robotics Cinnamon 1 available to buy?
Status: In development: the manufacturer has shown the robot but is not selling it openly yet.
How do I buy the Donut Robotics Cinnamon 1 through MERA Robotics?
Click “I want to buy” or fill in the form on this page. MERA Robotics will reply whether and on what terms the model is available and can help deploy it with the MERA OS conversation system.
Data: Donut Robotics. Specs from the manufacturer; they may change, always confirm with the manufacturer before buying.
