Waseda University / JST Moonshot program · research humanoid
WABIAN
The first of Waseda's WABIAN walking humanoids, used to study smooth human-like walking, turning and carrying objects. Waseda's own 2000 booklet dates it to both 1995 and 1997, so the year is uncertain.
- Price
- —Not published
- Height
- —Not published
- Weight
- —Not published
- Payload
- —Not published
- Speed
- —Not published
- Battery
- —Not published
Not sure this is the one? Find the best robot for your job Starts with: research and teaching. Five more quick questions.
Why it matters
A retired humanoid from Waseda University.
Real-world use
No customers or deployments reported yet.
Timeline
- First shown
- 1997
- Released
- Not yet
Maker
Waseda University / JST Moonshot programUniversity lab · founded 1882 · Tokyo, JapanGovernment research funding through the JST Moonshot programme (amount not stated).
Public attention
A historic robot: no longer sold or in use, so it is not ranked against current humanoids.
- No Wikipedia article of its own yet
- 1 news story from reputable press listed on this page
Measures how much people read and write about a robot, not how good it is. Measured 2026-10-13; same method for every robot. How it is measured
What’s inside
The parts the company has talked about publicly.
- Hands
- unknown
- Movement
- Walks on legs
- Other details
- A series of walking humanoids from Prof. Atsuo Takanishi's lab studying human-like biped walking, turning and carrying objects; detailed specs were not found in sources opened.
Lineage
Every Waseda University humanoid in order.
WABOT-11973Retired
WABOT-21984Retired- No public photo yetWe only show photos we're allowed to useHadaly-21997Retired
- No public photo yetWe only show photos we're allowed to useWABIAN1997Retired
- No public photo yetWe only show photos we're allowed to useWE-4RII2004Retired
WABIAN-22006Retired
TWENDY-ONE2007Research
KOBIAN2009Research- No public photo yetWe only show photos we're allowed to useWaseda Flutist Robot WF-4RVI2011Retired
- No public photo yetWe only show photos we're allowed to useAIREC (Dry-AIREC)2025Research
Watch WABIAN
Made, sold and where
Unit counts are usually company figures; analysts often disagree.
- Price
- Not published
- How to get one
- No official buying page found
- Built
- research prototypes (series)
- Sold or delivered
- never sold
- Where it is sold or used
- Japan
News
The latest 1, newest first. Summaries are ours; tap through for the original.
- WABIAN biped shown
Waseda's 2000 booklet cites WABIAN in 1997 (its activity list also gives 1995).
Waseda University
Side by side with its peers
Picked by the same rules for every humanoid: another maker’s robot that moves the same way, is at the same stage and does at least one of the same main jobs, first shown within two years. Closer size and price rank higher. How we choose
| Measure | No public photo yetWe only show photos we're allowed to useWABIANWaseda University |  P3HondaSame job: research · Both walk · Both past robots |  P1HondaSame job: research · Both walk · Both past robots |  P2HondaSame job: research · Both walk · Both past robots |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First shown | 1997 | 1997-09 | 1996-12 | 1996-12 |
| Status | Retired | Retired | Retired | Retired |
| Height | — | 160 cm | 192 cm | 182 cm |
| Weight | — | 130 kg | 175 kg | 210 kg |
| Joints | — | — | — | — |
| Speed | — | — | — | — |
| Payload | — | — | — | — |
| Battery | — | — | — | — |
| Price | — | — | — | — |
Sources
Figures come from public sources. Every link below backs something on this page.
Photos and logos only identify each robot and its maker. Simbeing is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsing any company, and nothing here is advertising. Figures are for statistics only and are not advice of any kind. Terms of use