National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC), Carnegie Mellon University · research humanoid
CHIMP
A 443 lb humanoid-shaped robot, just under 5 ft tall, that moves on tank-style tracks built into each limb rather than walking; it can crawl on all four limbs or stand on its rear tracks to use tools. Included as a non-walking humanoid (locomotion: tracks).
- Price
- —Not published
- Height
- —Not published
- Weight
- 201 kgHeavier than 97%
- 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
Took third place ($500,000) at the 2015 DRC Finals and led after day one, finishing all eight tasks in 55:15.
Real-world use
No customers or deployments reported yet.
Timeline
- Released
- Not yet
Maker
National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC), Carnegie Mellon UniversityUniversity lab · founded 1994 · Pittsburgh, United StatesStarted with a US$2.5 million NASA seed grant; sponsors include NASA, DARPA, the US Department of Transportation, Air Force Research Laboratory…
How it stacks up
Against other humanoids that publish the figure. Pick a measure.
CHIMP is heavier than 97% of the 277 other humanoids that publish a weight. Bars show the 7 closest in date.
Not published by the maker: height, speed, payload, joints, battery, price.
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
- 2 news stories from reputable press listed on this page
Measures how much people read and write about a robot, not how good it is. Measured 2026-10-14; same method for every robot. How it is measured
What’s inside
The parts the company has talked about publicly.
- Movement
- Wheeled base
- Actuators & motors
- Electric joint drives able to curl up to 300 lb; tank-like treads on each of its four limbs instead of walking.
- Hands
- Arms 4.3 ft long, ending in hands that can reach the ground; gripper design not detailed.
- Sensors & vision
- Laser rangefinders that build a 3D model of the surroundings, with cameras adding colour and texture.
- Battery & power
- Battery pack for 90 minutes or more.
- Other details
- 443 lb (about 201 kg), just under 5 ft standing and about 3 ft crawling. Statically stable, so it does not tip over if power or a computer fails. Can switch between upright and all-fours in seconds.
From the maker
CHIMP is the only humanoid from Carnegie Mellon University NREC (Tartan Rescue) in the atlas.
National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC), Carnegie Mellon University also makes 1 machine. See every National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC), Carnegie Mellon University robot
Watch CHIMP
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
- One.
- Sold or delivered
- Never sold.
- Where it is sold or used
- United States
News
The latest 2, newest first. Summaries are ours; tap through for the original.
- CHIMP third at DRC Finals
CHIMP led after day one and finished third, getting up unaided after a fall.
WAMC - DRC Tartan Rescue Team
CHIMP placed third at the DRC Trials, scored 18 of 32 points, and qualified for additional DARPA funding.
Carnegie Mellon University Robotics Institute
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 | CHIMPCarnegie Mellon University NREC (Tartan Rescue) |  M1 Mobile ManipulatorMeka RoboticsSame job: research · Both on wheels · Both past robots |  MomaroUniversity of Bonn (Autonomous Intelligent Systems group, team NimbRo Rescue)Same job: research · Both on wheels · Both past robots |
|---|---|---|---|
| First shown | 2013-12 | 2011-02 | 2015-06 |
| Status | Retired | Discontinued | Retired |
| Height | — | 160 cm | — |
| Weight | 201 kg | 165 kg | 58 kg |
| Joints | — | 33 | — |
| Speed | — | 3.6 km/h | — |
| Payload | — | — | — |
| Battery | — | — | 2 h |
| Price | — | $340,000 | — |
Sources
Figures come from the maker. 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