Zeno
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Zeno is a compact humanoid robot engineered by Hanson Robotics for human-robot interaction research, especially autism therapy and education. Standing at child-like proportions around 43-56 cm tall, it features advanced **Frubber** skin for lifelike facial expressions driven by 32 simulated muscles, enabling emotional responses like smiling and frowning. Equipped with binocular 720p stereo vision at 30 fps for face recognition and tracking, plus 8 microphones for speech recognition across 26 languages, Zeno engages in natural conversations using AI-driven speech synthesis. Its 37 degrees of freedom allow arm movements, walking, head gestures, and eye expressions with moving eyelids. Powered by Dynamixel RX-28 servos and an open-source platform with Massive Software AI for navigation and autonomous behaviors, Zeno responds organically to its environment, making it ideal for social skill development, therapy sessions, and interactive learning in controlled indoor settings.
Quick Overview & Key Facts
Zeno is a humanoid robot made by Hanson Robotics in China, launched in 2008 and built for autism therapy, social interaction studies, and educational tools. Its estimated price is USD 4000-16000. Featured in “Hanson Robotics’ Zeno returns as a social humanoid built for interaction, therapy studies and classroom use”.
- Dimensions
- 56 x 30 x 25 (cm)
- Weight
- 1.6 kg to 5.7 Kg
- Mobility
- Legged (bipedal walking)
- Top speed
- 0.5 km/h
- Handles
- People interaction, precision instruments
- Battery runtime
- 2 hours on full charge
- Charging time
- 2 hours
- Sensors
- RGB cameras (binocular 720p stereo at 30 fps), 8 microphones, speedometer, compass, IMU
- Operating environment
- Indoor
What Can Zeno Do?
Core operational tasks and activities demonstrated or performed by Zeno.
Real-World Applications of Zeno
Industries, working environments, and deployment suitability for Zeno.
Zeno Capabilities
Inherent physical, perceptual, and cognitive abilities built into Zeno.
Image Gallery
Below images are from Hanson Robotics's official sources
Review Videos
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Robot Specifications
Values without a Confirmed badge are compiled from public sources and may not be manufacturer-verified.
Not yet published by Hanson Robotics: warranty terms, safety certifications, EMC compliance, IP rating, noise level, expected lifespan, maintenance schedule, firmware version and 7 more.
Robot Timeline
Key milestones in this robot's development and rollout
Hanson Robotics debuts Zeno, a small boy-like expressive humanoid, at Wired NextFest.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
An updated version of Zeno is reported, used for research including the diagnosis and therapy of autism in children.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Latest News About Zeno
Stay updated with the latest articles and developments
Zeno vs NAO, Eva, Jules and Joey Chaos
Zeno overlaps with these alternatives on Elder care and For kids; only Zeno is tagged for Developer friendly. Zeno trails the closest alternatives on max speed and runtime.
Industries and capabilities are tags, not scores: a tick means the robot is listed for it. Green marks the best figure in a row (highest max speed and runtime; lowest weight). Ranges are not ranked.
| Spec | ZenoHanson Robotics | NAOSoftBank Robotics | EvaHanson Robotics | JulesHanson Robotics | Joey ChaosHanson Robotics |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industries | |||||
| Elder care | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| For kids | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Education and training | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Research and development | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Capabilities | |||||
| Lifelike face and expressions | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Developer friendly | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Autonomous task execution | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Gesture recognition | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Max Speed | 0.14 m/s | 0.3 m/s | 0.42 m/s | 0 m/s | 0.14 m/s |
| Runtime | 120 min | 90 min | 4 h | 4 | 120 min |
| Weight | 1.6–5.7 kg | 5.48 kg | 25 kg | 5 kg | 5 kg |
| Released | 2008 | 2008 | 2008 | 2006 | 2007 |
Notes such as conditions or alternate figures are left out and values are shown in common units; open each page for the full specs. Browse all Humanoid Robots
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Q1. What is Zeno, and what problem is it designed to solve?
Zeno is a small humanoid robot developed by Hanson Robotics with an expressive face and conversational AI, designed as a platform for human-robot interaction research, particularly for autism spectrum disorder therapy.
Q2. What are the main capabilities and key features of Zeno?
Zeno features proprietary biomimetic skin for facial expressions, face tracking, conversational AI, walking capability, and sensors including cameras, gyroscopes, and microphones, according to the manufacturer.
Q3. Who is Zeno built for, and which industries can benefit from it?
Zeno targets researchers in human-robot interaction and education sectors, with applications in autism therapy as demonstrated in school trials with child psychologists.
Q4. Is Zeno a commercial product or still a research prototype?
Zeno functions as a research platform with reported commercial pricing, positioned by Hanson Robotics for both research and therapeutic applications.
Q5. Is Zeno currently available for purchase, and when is it expected to ship?
As of 2026, Zeno is listed with a price of $14,750 by distributors, with shipping timelines depending on order fulfillment.
Q6. How does Zeno actually work in real-world environments?
In real-world settings like schools, Zeno uses facial expressions and AI to encourage communication in autistic children, as shown in trials at Queensmill school in London.
Q7. When was Zeno announced or officially launched?
Zeno was introduced by Hanson Robotics in 2012 as part of its Robokind portfolio, with demonstrations for autism therapy applications.
Q8. How is Zeno different from other robots in the same category?
Zeno distinguishes itself with Frubber biomimetic skin mimicking human facial muscles, HD eye cameras for recognition, and an open-source platform for AI development.
Q9. Does Zeno require additional development or customization after purchase?
As a research platform, Zeno supports open-source customization for specific applications like therapy, per manufacturer descriptions.
Q10. What is the future roadmap or planned upgrades for Zeno?
Hanson Robotics has indicated ongoing development of its robots for broader commercial and therapeutic uses, building on Zeno's interaction capabilities.
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