University of Tokyo — Companies & labs

The University of Tokyo's JSK Robotics Laboratory is internationally known for its tendon-driven, musculoskeletal humanoid robots, which closely mimic the structure and dynamics of the human body.

The JSK (Jouhou System Kougaku) Laboratory at the University of Tokyo has pursued a unique research direction in humanoid robotics: building robots with musculoskeletal architectures that replicate the tendons, muscles, and compliant joints of the human body rather than using conventional rigid-link servo systems. This approach produces robots with inherently safe, compliant behavior and the ability to perform a wide range of human-like motions. JSK's humanoid platforms, including the Kenshiro and Kengoro series, have pushed the limits of what is achievable with tendon-driven actuation and whole-body motion generation. The lab's foundational work on musculoskeletal humanoids informs ongoing debates about the best physical architectures for robots that must safely interact with people.

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University of Tokyo ↗

Last reviewed: 2026-06-14