Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) · research humanoid
ergoCub
A teen-sized walking humanoid evolved from iCub3, designed with Italy's workplace-injury insurer INAIL to share lifting with workers and cut back strain; it walks at about human pace. Payload is the stated load-bearing figure.
- Price
- —Not published
- Height
- 150 cmTaller than 34%
- Weight
- 55.7 kgHeavier than 42%
- Payload
- 10 kgCarries more than 41%
- Speed
- 3.0 km/hFaster than 22%
- Battery
- —Not published
Not sure this is the one? Find the best robot for your job Starts with: factory work. Five more quick questions.
Why it matters
A prototype humanoid from Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) with INAIL.
Real-world use
A 2026 study reported lower estimated lower-back load in people lifting with ergoCub's help (laboratory prototype).
Timeline
- Released
- Not yet
Maker
Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT)Government lab · founded 2003 · Genoa, ItalyAbout EUR 90 million a year from the Italian government; RobotCub received EUR 8.5 million from the European Commission
How it stacks up
Against other humanoids that publish the figure. Pick a measure.
ergoCub is taller than 34% of the 305 other humanoids that publish a height. Bars show the 7 closest in date.
ergoCub is heavier than 42% of the 277 other humanoids that publish a weight. Bars show the 7 closest in date.
ergoCub is faster than 22% of the 122 other humanoids that publish a speed. Bars show the 7 closest in date.
ergoCub carries more than 41% of the 132 other humanoids that publish a payload. Bars show the 7 closest in date.
Not published by the maker: joints, battery, price.
What it has been shown doing
We checked public videos and press for ergoCub and found no clear demo of the skills we track yet.
Public attention
A hidden gem: a recent robot with full published specs that gets little attention so far.
- No Wikipedia article of its own yet
- 4 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
- Walks on legs
- Hands
- Hands optimised for carrying heavy loads (ANSA); no DoF published.
- Sensors & vision
- Depth camera and LiDAR for navigation (ANSA); works with IIT's iFeel sensorised suit and shoes worn by the human partner to measure their posture and effort.
- AI & software
- AI vision for object recognition, localisation, shape estimation and grip control; recognition of human intent (handing over or receiving a load, greeting); self-localisation and path planning tested in a simulated warehouse; teleoperation demonstrated over about 300 km.
- Other details
- Flexible OLED display for expressions; Wi-Fi 6E connectivity; 150 cm, 55.7 kg; walks at about 3 km/h; carries up to about 10 kg (several kg while walking). Body geometry chosen to reduce joint effort for both robot and human when lifting together.
Named suppliers:FAULHABER
Lineage
Every Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) with INAIL humanoid in order.
iCub2008Research- No public photo yetWe only show photos we're allowed to useCOMAN (COmpliant huMANoid)2012Retired
WALK-MAN2015Research
R12016Prototype
ALTER-EGO2017Pilot use
iCub32022Research- ergoCub2023Prototype
iRonCub32025Research
Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) also makes 3 machines. See every Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) robot
Watch ergoCub
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
- Sold or delivered
- not sold
- Where it is sold or used
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy
- Customers and pilots
- INAIL (Italian workplace-injury insurer), co-funder of the project launched in 2021 with EUR 5 million over three years
News
The latest 4, newest first. Summaries are ours; tap through for the original.
- ergoCub demonstrated at the European Parliament
The project lists a European Parliament demonstration among its 2024 outings.
ergoCub project (IIT / INAIL) - ergoCub project wins GPAI responsible-AI recognition
The project was named a Responsible AI Change Maker by the Global Partnership on AI.
ergoCub project (IIT / INAIL) - IIT debuts worker-friendly ergoCub at its 20th anniversary
ANSA reported the official debut in Genoa of the robot built with INAIL to ease lifting strain.
ANSA - INAIL and IIT announce the ergoCub project
Italy's workplace-injury insurer and IIT launched the project to cut workers' musculoskeletal risk with robots and wearables.
ergoCub project (IIT / INAIL)
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 | ergoCubIstituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) with INAIL |  MATRIX-1Matrix RoboticsSame job: industrial · Both walk · Both in development · Similar size |  Forerunner K1Kepler Exploration RoboticsSame job: industrial · Both walk · Both in development · Similar size |  T1 (T1 Pro)Sichuan Tianlian Robot (TLIBOT, formerly Sichuan Fude Robot)Same job: industrial · Both walk · Both in development · Similar size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First shown | 2023-09 | 2024-12-26 | 2024-01 | 2024-04 |
| Status | Prototype | Prototype | Prototype | Prototype |
| Height | 150 cm | 180 cm | 178 cm | 160 cm |
| Weight | 55.7 kg | 67 kg | 85 kg | 43 kg |
| Joints | — | — | 40 | 41 |
| Speed | 3 km/h | 7.6 km/h | — | — |
| Payload | 10 kg | 10 kg | — | 10 kg |
| Battery | — | 5 h | — | — |
| Price | — | — | $20,000 | — |
Sources
Figures come from the maker. Every link below backs something on this page.
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