Kawada Robotics
Kawada Robotics is a Tokyo robot maker in the Kawada group, whose parent company Kawada Industries dates back to 1922 and is known for bridges, steel structures and construction. Kawada is one of Japan's humanoid pioneers: working with Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), it built the HRP series of research humanoids, including HRP-2 Promet in 2002, HRP-3 in 2007 and the slim, 39 kg HRP-4 in 2010. In 2009 it announced NEXTAGE, a two-armed humanoid industrial robot designed to work alongside people on assembly lines, with cameras in its head. Kawada Robotics was established in 2013 as a spin-off and took over the group's robot manufacturing and sales in 2015. NEXTAGE OPEN, released in 2013, became a popular open research platform, and the NEXTAGE Fillie, launched in 2022 and shown at iREX 2022, won a Red Dot design award. HRP-2 has been registered as an Important Historical Material of Science and Technology in Japan.
π‘Notable Achievement: Kawada co-developed the HRP humanoids with AIST (HRP-2 in 2002, HRP-4 in 2010) and launched NEXTAGE Fillie in 2022, which won a Red Dot Design Award.
What Does Kawada Robotics Do?
Kawada Robotics is a Tokyo robot maker in the Kawada group that built the HRP research humanoids with AIST and makes the NEXTAGE two-armed humanoid for factories.
βJapanese humanoid pioneer turned industrial dual-arm specialist.β
HRP Series
HRP-2 (2002), HRP-3 (2007) and HRP-4 (2010) were built with AIST; HRP-2 is a registered Important Historical Material.
NEXTAGE
A two-armed humanoid industrial robot announced in 2009 to work alongside people.
Open Platform
NEXTAGE OPEN (2013) became a popular open research platform.
What Can Kawada Robotics Robots Actually Do?
Cross-portfolio operational capabilities, manipulation tasks, and environmental competencies
Dual-arm assembly and humanoid research.
Dual-Arm Assembly
NEXTAGE works next to people on assembly lines.
Humanoid Research
HRP robots serve as research humanoids.
Kawada Robotics Robots
Showing 3 Humanoid Robots of 3 total models
HRP-3
By: Kawada Robotics
Launched: 2006
The HRP-3 humanoid robot, developed by Kawada Industries in collaboration with AIST and Kawasaki Heavy Industries, represents a significant advancement in bipedal robotics for harsh environments. Standing at 160 cm tall and weighing 68 kg, it features 36-42 degrees of freedom, enabling complex manipulations and stable locomotion on slippery or uneven surfaces. Designed for disaster relief, construction, and industrial tasks, HRP-3 boasts dustproof and water-resistant construction, allowing operation under heavy rain or dust. Enhanced leg-arm coordination supports carrying heavy loads, while autonomous/remote hybrid control improves task efficiency. Equipped with stereo cameras, gyroscopes, accelerometers, and force sensors, it navigates challenging terrains, recovers from falls, and performs collaborative work with humans. Its robust hardware and advanced software make it a pioneer in practical humanoid applications beyond laboratories.
HRP-4
By: Kawada Robotics
Launched: 2010
The HRP-4 is a lightweight, slim humanoid robotics platform developed for advanced research in human-robot collaboration and bipedal locomotion. Standing at 151 cm tall and weighing just 39 kg, it features 34 degrees of freedom, including 7 DOF per arm for precise object manipulation and 6 DOF per leg for stable walking. Equipped with low-power motors under 80W for enhanced safety around humans, it performs natural movements like waist twisting, one-footed balance, and dexterous five-fingered hand grasping. Cameras and microphones enable face recognition, object tracking, and voice command response. Designed as a successor to HRP-2 and HRP-3, HRP-4 supports indoor navigation in human environments, with flexible joints for athletic poses and tasks. Its compact, human-proportioned body facilitates safer interaction, object handling up to 0.5 kg per arm, and motion control software from AIST, accelerating humanoid R&D for practical applications like assistive work.
NEXTAGE Fillie
By: Kawada Robotics
Launched: 2022
The NEXTAGE Fillie is a compact collaborative humanoid robot designed for safe human-robot interaction in industrial and research settings. Featuring a humanoid form with dual arms, it excels in assembly tasks, object manipulation, and environment recognition using integrated stereo cameras on the head and optional hand cameras. With 15 degrees of freedom across arms, neck, and waist, it offers precise movements with 1.5kg payload per arm and 0.03mm repeatability. Its smaller, lighter design compared to predecessors enables quicker motions while maintaining curved arm shapes to prevent pinching. Equipped with LED status indicators on "feelers" for visibility, Fillie supports image-based navigation and versatile end-effectors for tasks like reception, inspection, and logistics. Ideal for manufacturing side-by-side with humans, it emphasizes likeable aesthetics, cost-performance, and expandability for R&D or production automation.
Kawada Robotics Timeline & Milestones
Evolutionary history, landmark prototypes, major acquisitions, and commercial roadmap
Kawada Robotics established
Kawada Robotics is established as a spin-off of Kawada Industries to develop and sell robots.
Source: kawadarobot.co.jp
NEXTAGE OPEN research platform released
Kawada releases NEXTAGE OPEN, an open-source version of its two-armed humanoid robot for research.
Source: kawadarobot.co.jp
Takes over robot manufacturing and sales
Kawada Robotics takes over the group's robot manufacturing and sales operations.
Source: kawadarobot.co.jp
HRP-2 recognised as historical material
HRP-2 Promet is registered as an Important Historical Material of Science and Technology in Japan.
Source: kawadarobot.co.jp
NEXTAGE NXA series released
Kawada Robotics releases the NEXTAGE NXA series with improved functionality for factory work.
Source: kawadarobot.co.jp
HRP-2 on permanent display in Paris
HRP-2 is placed in a permanent exhibition at the CitΓ© des Sciences et de l'Industrie in Paris.
Source: kawadarobot.co.jp
NEXTAGE Fillie launched at iREX 2022
Kawada launches NEXTAGE Fillie at iREX 2022, and the robot wins a Red Dot Design Award.
Source: kawadarobot.co.jp
Kawada Robotics Competitors by Category
Direct industry rivals grouped by specific robotics domain
What Makes Kawada Robotics Different?
Editorial AnalysisOrigin of Bots objective strategic assessment, engineering moats, and commercial hurdles
Key Strengths & Moats
- βDecades of humanoid experience.
- βDesign recognition for NEXTAGE Fillie.
Core Strategic Focus
Selling NEXTAGE to factories and research labs.
Road Ahead & Challenges
- β’Prices are not published.
- β’Competes with newer collaborative robots.
Kawada Robotics vs Key Competitors
Strategic capability matrix across platform categories, commercial readiness, and target markets
Degrees of Freedom
- NEXTAGE Fillie (Kawada)
- 15 DoF (Dual 6-DoF + Head/Waist)
- YuMi (ABB)
- 14 DoF (Dual 7-DoF)
- MICO Plus (Flexiv)
- 14 DoF (Dual 7-DoF)
- ARMAR-7 (KIT)
- 16+ DoF (Dual 8-DoF)
Vision System
- NEXTAGE Fillie (Kawada)
- Head Stereo + Dual Wrist Cameras
- YuMi (ABB)
- Optional Wrist Camera
- MICO Plus (Flexiv)
- 3D Head + Wrist Cameras
- ARMAR-7 (KIT)
- Head Stereo Cameras
Payload per Arm
- NEXTAGE Fillie (Kawada)
- 2 kg
- YuMi (ABB)
- 0.5 kg
- MICO Plus (Flexiv)
- 5 kg
- ARMAR-7 (KIT)
- 3 kg
| Strategic Dimension | NEXTAGE Fillie (Kawada) | YuMi (ABB) | MICO Plus (Flexiv) | ARMAR-7 (KIT) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Degrees of Freedom | 15 DoF (Dual 6-DoF + Head/Waist) | 14 DoF (Dual 7-DoF) | 14 DoF (Dual 7-DoF) | 16+ DoF (Dual 8-DoF) |
| Vision System | Head Stereo + Dual Wrist Cameras | Optional Wrist Camera | 3D Head + Wrist Cameras | Head Stereo Cameras |
| Payload per Arm | 2 kg | 0.5 kg | 5 kg | 3 kg |
Corporate Ecosystem & Ownership Structure
Parent company relationships, historical acquisitions, and global operating facilities
Kawada Industries
The Kawada group dates back to 1922 and is known for bridges and steel structures.
Ownership & Acquisition History
The Kawada group dates back to 1922 and is known for bridges and steel structures.
Global Facilities & Operating Hubs
Kawada Robotics Headquarters
HQTaito-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Articles & Industry News
Showing 1 recent article and news updates about Kawada Robotics
Frequently Asked Questions
8 AnswersVerified answers, company specifications, and deployment details about Kawada Robotics
What is Kawada Robotics?
Kawada Robotics is a Tokyo robot maker established in 2013 as part of the Kawada group. It makes the NEXTAGE humanoid industrial robots and built the HRP research humanoids with AIST.
What is the Kawada NEXTAGE robot?
NEXTAGE is a two-armed humanoid industrial robot, announced in 2009, designed to work alongside people on assembly lines, using cameras in its head to see parts.
What is NEXTAGE Fillie?
NEXTAGE Fillie is the latest NEXTAGE model, launched in 2022 and shown at iREX 2022. It won a Red Dot Design Award for its design as a collaborative humanoid robot.
What is the HRP-4 robot?
HRP-4 is a slim humanoid research robot developed by Kawada and AIST in 2010. It weighs about 39 kg and was designed around the idea of a slim athlete.
Did Kawada build HRP-2?
Yes. Kawada built HRP-2 Promet with AIST in 2002 as a research platform. It has been registered as an Important Historical Material of Science and Technology in Japan.
Is NEXTAGE available for research?
Yes. Kawada released NEXTAGE OPEN in 2013 as an open-source research version, and it has been used by universities and labs to develop robot software.
How much does a NEXTAGE robot cost?
Kawada Robotics does not publish NEXTAGE prices. Manufacturers and research institutions need to contact Kawada or its distributors for quotes.
What is the Kawada group?
Kawada Robotics belongs to the Kawada group, whose parent company, Kawada Industries, was founded in 1922 and is known for bridges and steel structures.
Verified Data & Editorial Assurance
Compiled from verified corporate filings, official Kawada Robotics datasheets, and robotics engineering registries. Information has been verified against official manufacturer documentation. For commercial procurement or proprietary integrations, contact the manufacturer directly.