Summary:

 

HUBO is a family of full‑size humanoid robots developed by KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology). First released in 2005, HUBO became one of the world’s most influential humanoid platforms, evolving through multiple generations and culminating in DRC‑HUBO, the robot that won the 2015 DARPA Robotics Challenge. The series is known for its human‑like proportions, advanced locomotion, dexterous hands, and research‑grade reliability.

 

Editorial:

 

HUBO represents the moment South Korea entered the global humanoid robotics race. Unlike many early humanoids that focused on entertainment or simple walking, HUBO was engineered as a research‑grade, full‑body robotics platform capable of manipulation, locomotion, and human‑robot interaction. Over two decades, KAIST iterated through multiple versions—KHR‑1, KHR‑2, KHR‑3 (HUBO), HUBO2, Albert HUBO, and DRC‑HUBO—each improving mobility, dexterity, and autonomy.

 

The DARPA Robotics Challenge victory cemented HUBO as one of the most capable disaster‑response humanoids ever built, demonstrating driving, drilling, valve turning, ladder climbing, and tool use. HUBO remains a cornerstone of humanoid robotics research worldwide.

 

Specifications:

 

Dimensions & Build

(Representative: HUBO / KHR‑3)  

- Height: ~125–130 cm  

- Weight: ~55–80 kg (varies by version)  

- Design Intent: Research‑grade humanoid for locomotion, manipulation, and disaster‑response development  

- Construction:  

  - Lightweight aluminum/composite frame  

  - Modular limbs  

  - Multiple head/hand configurations across generations  

- Developer: KAIST HuboLab (Daejeon, South Korea)  

- Production Status: Multi‑generation research platform (KHR‑1 → DRC‑HUBO)

 

Mobility

- Locomotion: Full bipedal walking  

- Capabilities:  

  - Walking, turning, running (later versions)  

  - Disaster‑response locomotion (DRC‑HUBO)  

  - Stable gait control  

- Notable: DRC‑HUBO can kneel and roll to increase stability during tasks  

 

Note: No official incline, step height, or speed metrics published for all versions.

 

Degrees of Freedom

- Total DOF: ~40 DOF (HUBO2)  

- Arms: 6–7 DOF per arm (varies by version)  

- Hands:  

  - Early HUBO: simple grippers  

  - HUBO2 / Albert HUBO: 5‑finger dexterous hands  

- Legs: 6 DOF per leg  

 

Actuation

- Actuator Type: Electric servo actuators  

- Capabilities:  

  - Smooth joint control  

  - Research‑grade precision  

  - Improved torque and speed in HUBO2 and DRC‑HUBO  

 

Note: No joint torque or joint‑speed numbers published.

 

Manipulation

- Hands: 5‑finger dexterous hands (HUBO2, Albert HUBO)  

- Capabilities:  

  - Tool use  

  - Valve turning  

  - Drilling  

  - Door operation  

  - Object grasping  

 

Note: No payload or grip‑force data published.

 

Perception & Sensors

Confirmed capabilities across the series:

- Vision system (RGB cameras)  

- Microphones  

- Joint‑level sensing  

- Force/torque sensing (later versions)  

 

Note: No camera resolution, FOV, or tactile sensor details published.

 

Compute & AI

- Compute Platform: Varies by generation  

- Capabilities:  

  - Real‑time locomotion control  

  - Manipulation planning  

  - Disaster‑response task execution  

  - Voice recognition (select versions)  

 

Note: No CPU/GPU/TOPS or memory specifications published.

 

Battery & Power

- Power Source: Electric  

- Runtime: Varies by version (not officially published)  

 

Connectivity

- Wired + wireless communication (research‑grade)  

- Teleoperation support  

- Real‑time control interfaces  

 

Applications

- Humanoid robotics research  

- Disaster‑response development  

- University and lab experimentation  

- Tool‑use studies  

- Human‑robot interaction research  

 

Pricing

- Not published  

HUBO platforms are research‑only and not sold commercially.

 

KAIST has NOT published:

 

Mobility

- Walking speed  

- Step height  

- Max incline  

- Turning radius  

- Fall‑recovery time  

 

Manipulation

- Payload  

- Grip force  

- Joint torque  

- Joint speed  

 

Sensors

- Camera resolution  

- Depth sensor type  

- Field of view  

- IMU specifications  

- Tactile sensor layout  

 

Compute

- Processor type  

- GPU / accelerator  

- TOPS  

- Memory  

- SDK/API availability  

 

Battery & Power

- Batt

ery capacity  

- Runtime  

- Charge time  

- Power draw  

 

Environmental Ratings

- Operating temperature  

- Humidity tolerance  

- IP rating  

 

Image: @manaspaldhe12

 

Company Source:

 

KAIST Humanoid Robot Research Center (HuboLab) — Daejeon, South Korea

 

https://www.kaist.ac.kr/newsen/html/news/?sval=HUBO

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HUBO

 

Key News & Coverage:

 

https://youtube.com/shorts/U7KvL7tvjCY?si=pDtPrECqlLCk0K5z