Waseda University
Waseda University is a private research university in Tokyo, founded in 1882, with a 50-year legacy in humanoid robotics that began under the late Professor Ichiro Kato, known as the father of Japanese robotics research. In 1973 Waseda built WABOT-1, widely regarded as the world's first full-scale humanoid robot, which could walk, grasp objects and communicate in basic Japanese. WABOT-2 followed in 1984, a musical robot that could read sheet music and play an electronic organ with both hands and feet. Later Waseda robots include the WABIAN biped walkers of the 1990s and 2000s, the Waseda Talkers that mimicked speech, the WF-4R flutist in 2003, TWENDY-ONE for caregiving in 2007 and KOBIAN, which studies emotional expression, in 2009. Today Professor Shigeki Sugano leads AIREC, the AI-driven Robot for Embrace and Care, part of Japan's Moonshot programme, aimed at robots that learn and coexist with people, supporting housework, medical care and welfare, by 2050.
💡Notable Achievement: Waseda built WABOT-1 in 1973, widely considered the world's first full-scale humanoid, and now develops AIREC, a care robot under Japan's Moonshot programme.
What Does Waseda University Do?
Waseda University is a Tokyo university with a 50-year humanoid research legacy, from WABOT-1 in 1973 to the AIREC care robot.
“Where full-scale humanoid research began.”
WABOT Heritage
WABOT-1 (1973) and WABOT-2 (1984).
Caregiving Robots
TWENDY-ONE (2007) and KOBIAN (2009).
AIREC
An AI-driven robot for embrace and care.
What Can Waseda University Robots Actually Do?
Cross-portfolio operational capabilities, manipulation tasks, and environmental competencies
Care and household assistance research.
Care Assistance
AIREC targets housework, caregiving and medical support.
Waseda University Robots
Showing 1 Humanoid Robots of 1 total model
AIREC
Manufactured by Waseda University
AIREC is a humanoid robot developed by Waseda University under Japan's JST Moonshot Program, specializing in elderly care and medical assistance. Standing 154 cm tall and weighing 150 kg, it features bipedal design with advanced AI for real-time human movement recognition, force adjustment, and adaptive behaviors. Key capabilities include patient repositioning to prevent bedsores, assisting with dressing like putting on socks, joint rehabilitation, biometric data acquisition (heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature), ultrasound examinations, and basic cooking motions. Powered by deep neural networks for predictive joint movements and embodied intelligence, AIREC integrates multimodal learning from human demonstrations, enabling natural physical interactions, emotional expression, and semi-autonomous caregiving tasks in nursing environments. Variants like Dry-AIREC emphasize safe, pain-free support for daily activities, bridging the gap in Japan's aging society.
Waseda University Timeline & Milestones
Evolutionary history, landmark prototypes, major acquisitions, and commercial roadmap
WABOT-1 humanoid built
Waseda University builds WABOT-1, widely considered the world's first full-scale humanoid robot, able to walk, grasp and speak basic Japanese.
Source: waseda.jp
WABOT-2 musical robot
Waseda builds WABOT-2, a robot that reads sheet music and plays an electronic organ with its hands and feet.
Source: waseda.jp
TWENDY-ONE caregiving robot
Waseda develops TWENDY-ONE, a robot designed for practical caregiving tasks.
Source: waseda.jp
KOBIAN emotion-expressing robot
Waseda creates KOBIAN to study emotional expression through facial expressions and body movements.
Source: waseda.jp
AIREC project under Moonshot programme
Professor Shigeki Sugano's AIREC project, an AI-driven robot for embrace and care, forms part of Japan's Moonshot R&D programme.
Source: jst.go.jp
Waseda University Competitors by Category
Direct industry rivals grouped by specific robotics domain
What Makes Waseda University Different?
Editorial AnalysisOrigin of Bots objective strategic assessment, engineering moats, and commercial hurdles
Key Strengths & Moats
- ✓Unmatched research history.
- ✓Moonshot funding.
Core Strategic Focus
AIREC development.
Road Ahead & Challenges
- •Research project, not a product.
- •Long timelines to 2050.
Waseda University vs Key Competitors
Strategic capability matrix across platform categories, commercial readiness, and target markets
Primary Role
- AIREC (Waseda)
- Direct Patient Nursing
- aeo (Aeolus)
- Eldercare Facility Patrol
- HSR (Toyota)
- Home Assistive Pickup
- Moxi (Diligent)
- Hospital Supply Courier
Physical Contact
- AIREC (Waseda)
- Intimate Human Embrace
- aeo (Aeolus)
- Light Object Handover
- HSR (Toyota)
- Object Fetching
- Moxi (Diligent)
- Button Pushing Only
Payload
- AIREC (Waseda)
- Heavy Patient Reposition
- aeo (Aeolus)
- 4 kg per arm
- HSR (Toyota)
- 1.2 kg arm lift
- Moxi (Diligent)
- 3 kg arm lift
Certification
- AIREC (Waseda)
- ISO 13482 Care Standard
- aeo (Aeolus)
- ISO 13482 Safety
- HSR (Toyota)
- ISO 13482 Safety
- Moxi (Diligent)
- ANSI/RIA R15.08
| Strategic Dimension | AIREC (Waseda) | aeo (Aeolus) | HSR (Toyota) | Moxi (Diligent) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Role | Direct Patient Nursing | Eldercare Facility Patrol | Home Assistive Pickup | Hospital Supply Courier |
| Physical Contact | Intimate Human Embrace | Light Object Handover | Object Fetching | Button Pushing Only |
| Payload | Heavy Patient Reposition | 4 kg per arm | 1.2 kg arm lift | 3 kg arm lift |
| Certification | ISO 13482 Care Standard | ISO 13482 Safety | ISO 13482 Safety | ANSI/RIA R15.08 |
Corporate Ecosystem & Ownership Structure
Parent company relationships, historical acquisitions, and global operating facilities
Global Facilities & Operating Hubs
Waseda University Headquarters
HQShinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Articles & Industry News
Showing 1 recent article and news updates about Waseda University
Frequently Asked Questions
8 AnswersVerified answers, company specifications, and deployment details about Waseda University
What was WABOT-1?
WABOT-1, built at Waseda University in 1973, is widely considered the world's first full-scale humanoid robot. It could walk, grasp objects and communicate in basic Japanese.
What is AIREC?
AIREC, the AI-driven Robot for Embrace and Care, is Waseda's next-generation humanoid for housework, caregiving and medical support, led by Professor Shigeki Sugano.
Who leads Waseda's humanoid research?
Professor Shigeki Sugano leads the AIREC project, with support from Professor Tetsuya Ogata, continuing the legacy of Ichiro Kato, the father of Japanese robotics research.
When was Waseda University founded?
Waseda University was founded in 1882 and is a private research university in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan, with a robotics tradition that began under Professor Ichiro Kato.
What other robots has Waseda built?
Waseda has built WABOT-2, the WABIAN biped walkers, the Waseda Talkers, the WF-4R flutist, TWENDY-ONE for caregiving and KOBIAN to study emotional expression.
What is AIREC for?
AIREC is meant to support housework, medical care and welfare by staying close to people, learning and acting on its own as part of Japan's Moonshot programme.
Can you buy an AIREC robot?
No. AIREC is a research project at Waseda University, funded through Japan's Moonshot R&D programme, and is not a commercial product.
Why is Waseda important in robotics?
Waseda built the first full-scale humanoid, WABOT-1, in 1973 and has led humanoid research in Japan for 50 years under professors Ichiro Kato and Shigeki Sugano.
Verified Data & Editorial Assurance
Compiled from verified corporate filings, official Waseda University datasheets, and robotics engineering registries. Information has been verified against official manufacturer documentation. For commercial procurement or proprietary integrations, contact the manufacturer directly.