CUE is a series of humanoid basketball robots Toyota has been developing since 2018, and CUE7 is its seventh generation. The project began as a grassroots effort by engineers working in their spare time and serves to develop precise motion and AI rather than as a product. The robot appears at games of the Alvark Tokyo basketball team, among other events.
History of the CUE series
Toyota says the project started in May 2018 as a volunteer effort by employees who were AI novices and learned it from scratch. The first CUE debuted at a public event and made 9 of its 10 shots. The work proceeded without formal management approval, with help from engineers at the Hirose plant, who built circuit boards, about 600 m of wiring and resin exterior parts.
New versions came quickly: CUE2 was registered as a player for Alvark Tokyo in the B.League, which Toyota described as a first for the league. CUE3 debuted in April 2019 and took three-point shots, and CUE4 was shown at the end of 2019, appearing at Levanga Hokkaido's arena in December 2019. In 2020 CUE4 received Alvark Tokyo's Break the Border award. Toyota has described CUE as scoring 100 out of 100 shots.
CUE7 and what is known
CUE7 is a later generation of the series. Official Toyota material detailing CUE7 could not be located here, so its specifications (height, weight, performance) and records attributed to it in catalogues are unconfirmed. It remains a research and showcase project: Toyota does not sell it or publish a price.
Toyota lists CUE within its partner-robot programme alongside the T-HR3 humanoid and the Human Support Robot.
Timeline
- 2018-05 CUE project starts at Toyota.
- 2019-04 CUE3 debuts.
- 2019-12 CUE4 debuts (appearance at Levanga Hokkaido's arena).
- 2020-05 CUE4 receives Alvark Tokyo's Break the Border award.
Sources
- The Development Diary of CUE, the AI Basketball Robot, Toyota Motor Corporation (2019-03-29)
- The Development Diary of CUE, the AI Basketball Robot: Third story, Toyota Motor Corporation (2020-03-04)
- AIバスケットボールロボット「CUE4」、馬場雄大選手 BREAK THE BORDER賞 受賞のご報告, Alvark Tokyo (2020-05)
- Frontier Research archives (partner robots), Toyota Motor Corporation (2026-10)
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 200 cm the Toyota CUE 7 is taller than 99% of the humanoids in the catalogue (median: 170 cm).
- It is the only Toyota model in the catalogue and one of 4 humanoids from Japan.
Capabilities
Frequently asked questions
Can you buy Toyota CUE?
No. It is a Toyota research and showcase project with no price or sales.
What does the CUE robot do?
It shoots baskets at shows and games; Toyota uses it to develop precise motion and AI.
Which team is CUE linked to?
Alvark Tokyo, a B.League basketball team that registered CUE2 as a player.
How much does the Toyota CUE 7 cost?
The manufacturer has not published a price for the Toyota CUE 7. You can send a purchase enquiry through MERA Robotics.
Is the Toyota CUE 7 available to buy?
Status: Research: a research platform for labs and universities.
How tall and heavy is the Toyota CUE 7?
Height: 200 cm.
How do I buy the Toyota CUE 7 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: Toyota. Specs from the manufacturer; they may change, always confirm with the manufacturer before buying.
