Kengoro

The University of Tokyo's JSK Lab built Kengoro as a question: how closely can a robot
copy human physiology? Answer: tendon-driven with over 100 motors, an articulated rib
cage and spine — and a cooling system copied from the one thing humans do that robots
don't: it sweats. Deionized water seeps through a porous laser-sintered aluminum frame
and evaporates off the motors, letting Kengoro do push-ups for minutes without
overheating. Published in Science Robotics (2017); sibling to Kenshiro and Kojiro.
Research platform only — no commercial availability — but it remains the field's most
complete argument that musculoskeletal design beats joint-stacking.

jsk.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp verified 2026-08-20 (HTTP 200). Published in Science Robotics (2017); IEEE Spectrum coverage of 'sweating' cooling.