Torobo is a humanoid from Japan's Tokyo Robotics: a dual-arm torso on an omnidirectional wheeled base, with torque sensors in every arm and waist joint. It is aimed at machine learning research and at automating tasks that involve deliberate contact with objects or surroundings. Since 2025 the company has been wholly owned by Yaskawa Electric.
History and launch
The Torobo family dates back to the Torobo Arm research arm of 2017, followed by Torobo Arm Mini in 2018 and the humanoid upper body Torobo-kun in 2020. The full-size Torobo was added in 2022, and a new model was launched in June 2024 together with a new Torobo Hand.
In October 2024 Tokyo Robotics open-sourced simulation models of the new Torobo and its hand. In 2026 it exhibited a second generation, Torobo2, and a bipedal Torobo Humanoid prototype that appeared in IEEE Spectrum's Video Friday.
Design and hardware
Tokyo Robotics lists a height of 1615 mm and a base width of 590 mm. The robot has two 7-axis arms, a 3-axis waist, a 3-axis neck and a 4-axis omnidirectional mobile base, so it drives rather than walks. It weighs about 120 kg, and each arm can hold 7 kg in its worst-case posture.
Its defining feature is joint torque sensing in all arm and waist joints. That enables impedance and force control, safe stops on contact, and contact-rich work such as assembly, cooking or physical interaction with people.
The head is optional: a sensorless default, or a version with a wide-angle stereo camera, a fisheye camera, a ToF depth camera, microphones and a speaker. End effectors are either an in-house gripper with current-limited grip force or the Torobo Hand (16 DoF, close to 200 pressure sensors). A built-in battery gives roughly 3 hours of operation, and the robot can run while charging.
Software and AI
The software stack is ROS-based. It ships with Cartesian impedance control, ZMP-based fall prevention, a state machine for chaining motions and collision-triggered safety stops, plus MoveIt trajectory planning and RViz visualisation. Camera images, joint angles and joint torques can all be logged, which makes the robot useful for collecting training data.
Simulation models exist for Gazebo, MuJoCo and NVIDIA Isaac Sim. An optional second PC with an NVIDIA RTX GPU runs the head sensors and can train and run machine learning models. Torobo Puppet, a scaled-down copy of the robot's upper body that an operator moves by hand, provides teleoperation and data collection.
Applications and deployments
Tokyo Robotics targets manufacturing, logistics, services and machine learning labs. Company videos show Torobo folding laundry, bussing tables, hammering nails, sawing wood and carrying boxes under teleoperation. The company does not publish customer names or unit numbers.
Manufacturer
Tokyo Robotics Inc. was founded in January 2015 and is based in Bunkyo, Tokyo. Its CEO is founder Yoshihiro Sakamoto, a former Waseda University researcher who earned his PhD there in 2013. Yaskawa Electric took full ownership effective 1 July 2025, announced on 3 October 2025.
Price and availability
No price is published. Torobo is sold on request by email, with the head, end effector and image-processing PC offered as options.
Timeline
- 2015-01 Tokyo Robotics founded
- 2017 Torobo Arm research arm
- 2020 Torobo-kun humanoid upper body
- 2022 Full-size wheeled Torobo
- 2024-06 New Torobo and Torobo Hand models
- 2024-10 Torobo simulation models open-sourced
- 2025-07 Tokyo Robotics becomes a Yaskawa Electric subsidiary
- 2026-04 Torobo2 and bipedal Torobo Humanoid prototype shown
Sources
- Torobo, Tokyo Robotics (2026)
- Technologies (Torobo Hand, Torobo Puppet), Tokyo Robotics (2026)
- Legacy Products, Tokyo Robotics (2026)
- Features (company news), Tokyo Robotics (2026)
- About us, Tokyo Robotics (2026)
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
- At 160 cm the Tokyo Robotics Torobo is taller than 19% of the humanoids in the catalogue (median: 170 cm).
- Its weight of 120 kg (catalogue median: 65 kg) matters for transport and for working around people.
- It is one of 2 Tokyo Robotics models in the catalogue and one of 4 humanoids from Japan.
Capabilities
Frequently asked questions
Does Torobo walk?
The standard Torobo rides on an omnidirectional wheeled base. The bipedal Torobo Humanoid is a separate prototype shown in 2026.
How heavy is Torobo?
About 120 kg at 1615 mm tall, according to the manufacturer.
What is Torobo used for?
Machine learning research and automating contact-rich, force-controlled tasks such as assembly or surface wiping.
Who owns Tokyo Robotics?
Yaskawa Electric has owned 100% of the company since July 2025.
How much does Torobo cost?
Tokyo Robotics does not publish a price; it quotes on request.
How much does the Tokyo Robotics Torobo cost?
The manufacturer has not published a price for the Tokyo Robotics Torobo. You can send a purchase enquiry through MERA Robotics.
Is the Tokyo Robotics Torobo available to buy?
Status: Shipping: the manufacturer sells and ships this robot.
How tall and heavy is the Tokyo Robotics Torobo?
Height: 160 cm, weight: 120 kg.
How do I buy the Tokyo Robotics Torobo 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: Tokyo Robotics. Specs from the manufacturer; they may change, always confirm with the manufacturer before buying.
