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| PAL Robotics Kangaroo | |
|---|---|
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| General information | |
| Manufacturer | PAL Robotics |
| Country of origin | Spain |
| Year introduced | 2021 (prototype); 2024 (commercial) |
| Status | Commercially available |
| Type | Bipedal humanoid robot |
| Predecessor | TALOS |
| Website | pal-robotics.com/robot/kangaroo |
PAL Robotics Kangaroo is a full-size bipedal humanoid robot designed and manufactured by PAL Robotics, a Barcelona-based robotics company. Introduced as a prototype in 2021 and made commercially available in 2024, Kangaroo serves as a next-generation research platform for dynamic locomotion, reinforcement learning, and embodied AI. Standing 160 cm tall and weighing between 35 and 40 kg depending on configuration, the robot represents a significant departure from PAL Robotics' earlier TALOS humanoid, trading payload capacity and industrial strength for lightweight construction, low inertia, and the ability to perform highly dynamic motions such as jumping and running.[1][2]
Kangaroo is built around custom ball-screw linear actuators arranged in a serial-parallel hybrid kinematic architecture, a novel approach that positions all leg motors close to the pelvis to optimize mass distribution. The platform runs on Linux with ROS (Robot Operating System) as its middleware and uses a 2 kHz EtherCAT control network for real-time responsiveness. The first commercial unit was delivered to the Technical University of Vienna (TU Wien) in mid-2024, and the robot has since been deployed in the European Union's Horizon Europe PRIMI project for neuromorphic robotics and stroke rehabilitation research.[3][4]
PAL Robotics was founded in 2004 in Barcelona, Spain, by Francesco Ferro and a small team of engineers who set out to build the first fully autonomous humanoid biped robot in Europe.[5] Over the next two decades, the company developed a succession of humanoid and service robots that established its reputation in the European robotics ecosystem.
The company's robot lineage began with REEM-A in 2005, a humanoid capable of walking, playing chess, and recognizing faces and voice commands by 2006. REEM-B followed in 2008 with improved performance, and REEM-H1 in 2010 marked the company's first robot intended as a commercial service platform. The full-size REEM debuted in 2012 for entertainment and service applications, and REEM-C arrived in 2013 as an advanced research humanoid with improved mobility and interaction capabilities.[5]
In 2017, PAL Robotics launched TALOS, a high-performance humanoid designed for industrial research applications such as drilling and riveting. TALOS represented the state of the art in PAL's humanoid design at the time, with 32 degrees of freedom, torque-controlled joints, and a 6 kg payload per arm. However, at 175 cm tall and 95 kg, TALOS was heavy and relatively slow, walking at a maximum of 3 km/h.[6][7]
Beyond humanoids, PAL Robotics expanded into mobile manipulation with TIAGo (2015) and TIAGo++ (2019), and into social robotics with ARI (2019). The company has participated in over 60 European Union research projects and has been financially self-sufficient since 2016, funding operations through product sales rather than venture capital.[5][8]
PAL Robotics forms part of the PAL Technology Group, which is connected to the Royal Group, a diversified conglomerate based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, comprising over 60 companies across real estate, hospitality, healthcare, and technology sectors. This relationship dates back to at least 2011, when PAL Robotics received a bulk order of 20 REEM robots from the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (ADNEC), which led to plans for a robot manufacturing facility in the emirate.[9][10]
While TALOS proved successful as a torque-controlled research platform at institutions like LAAS-CNRS and the University of Edinburgh, its weight and conventional rotary-joint design limited its ability to perform truly dynamic motions. PAL Robotics conceived Kangaroo to address these constraints, creating a humanoid optimized for agile bipedal locomotion, jumping, and running rather than heavy manipulation. The design philosophy prioritized low moving inertia, impact resilience, and energy efficiency, resulting in a robot that weighs less than half of TALOS while achieving significantly more dynamic movement capabilities.[2][11]
Kangaroo employs a novel mechanical design that differs fundamentally from PAL Robotics' prior bipedal platforms. Instead of conventional rotary actuators at each joint (as used in REEM-C and TALOS), Kangaroo uses custom linear ball-screw actuators arranged in a serial-parallel hybrid kinematic chain. This architecture enables all leg actuators to be positioned near the pelvis, close to the robot's center of mass, rather than distributed along the limbs. The result is dramatically reduced leg inertia and improved mass distribution, both critical for dynamic locomotion.[12][13]
Each leg contains 6 actuated degrees of freedom and weighs approximately 12.5 kg. The kinematic structure of each leg comprises four closed sub-mechanisms: a 1-DOF hip yaw, a 2-DOF hip pitch/roll, a 1-DOF knee, and a 2-DOF ankle pitch/roll. When accounting for the passive joints in the closed linkages, the full lower-body model contains 76 total degrees of freedom (12 actuated, 64 passive), though the system reduces to a 16-DOF equivalent model for control purposes.[12][13]
A key design feature is the decoupled leg-length actuator, which separates vertical extension from hip swing motions. This decoupling improves energy efficiency during locomotion and enables leg extension and contraction with a single motor, simplifying the mechanical structure compared to robots that require multiple actuators for similar motions.[2][11]
The torso design concentrates motors in the central body, described by PAL Robotics as a "mechanical core," providing a lower, more balanced center of gravity. Carbon-fiber tubes are used in the structural frame for lightweight rigidity and easier handling. A protective waist feature has been added for fall safety, and symmetric foot sole plates improve stability during ground contact.[3][14]
Kangaroo is powered by 12 linear ball-screw actuator modules (6 per leg), each equipped with integrated force sensors for closed-loop force and torque control. The actuators are backdrivable, efficient, and produce high-quality force control, enabling researchers to experiment with different control algorithms.[12][15]
Stroke lengths vary by joint: the hip yaw actuators have a stroke of plus or minus 0.02 m, the hip roll/pitch actuators plus or minus 0.04 m, the knee has a stroke from 0 to 0.15 m, and the ankle roll/pitch actuators have a stroke of plus or minus 0.02 m. All linear actuators except those at the thighs are equipped with relative linear encoders; the thigh actuators use absolute linear encoders for measuring screw displacement.[12]
The actuator electronics were designed and manufactured entirely in-house by PAL Robotics, optimizing the torque control approach previously demonstrated in TALOS and making it more accessible for researchers. Each actuator features its own dedicated control board, adopting a decentralized motor control architecture that reduces internal cabling by 40% compared to centralized designs.[3][14]
The sensor suite on Kangaroo includes:
The high-frequency IMU output and minimal latency of the Orientus sensor proved particularly important for real-time state estimation during running and jumping, allowing the robot to adapt to environmental changes without relying on external sensors such as cameras or LiDAR.[11]
Kangaroo is equipped with two onboard PCs: one dedicated to real-time control and one to perception processing. The main processor is an Intel Core i7. An optional NVIDIA Jetson addon is available for running neural networks or reinforcement learning frameworks on the robot.[3]
The software stack runs on Ubuntu Linux with ROS as the standard middleware, consistent with PAL Robotics' company-wide commitment to the Robot Operating System ecosystem. PAL Robotics has been a contributor to ROS 2 development, particularly to the ros2_control framework. The company's PAL OS platform provides documentation, simulation models, and development tools for researchers working with Kangaroo.[16]
The control system operates over a 2 kHz EtherCAT network, with capability for up to 5 kHz control loop frequency. The robot uses a Whole Body Inverse Dynamics (WBID) controller for balance and locomotion, implemented through custom ROS transmissions that handle the non-linear relationship between joint space and actuator space in the closed kinematic chains.[13][15]
Kangaroo features a new-generation power board designed in-house by PAL Robotics, with peak current capability for agile locomotion during high-demand movements. Battery life is reported at up to 4 to 6 hours per charge, depending on the activity level and configuration.[2][14]
| Category | Specification | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Physical | Height | 160 cm (5 ft 3 in) |
| Physical | Weight | 35 to 40 kg (77 to 88 lbs), depending on variant |
| Mobility | Total degrees of freedom | 28 (full body) |
| Mobility | Leg DOF | 6 per leg (12 actuated total in lower body) |
| Mobility | Leg weight | 12.5 kg per leg |
| Manipulation | Arm payload | 5 kg |
| Control | Control loop frequency | 2 kHz (up to 5 kHz capable) |
| Control | Network | EtherCAT |
| Sensors | Depth cameras | 4x Intel RealSense D435i |
| Sensors | IMU | Advanced Navigation Orientus (1 kHz) |
| Computing | Onboard PCs | 2 (real-time control + perception) |
| Computing | Processor | Intel Core i7 |
| Computing | Optional GPU | NVIDIA Jetson |
| Software | OS | Ubuntu Linux |
| Software | Middleware | ROS / ROS 2 |
| Power | Battery life | 4 to 6 hours |
| Actuators | Type | Custom linear ball-screw with integrated force sensors |
| Actuators | Count (legs) | 12 modules (6 per leg) |
Kangaroo and TALOS represent two different design philosophies from PAL Robotics. TALOS was built for industrial-strength manipulation and research in factory environments, while Kangaroo targets dynamic locomotion and agility research. The following table summarizes the key differences.
| Feature | TALOS | Kangaroo |
|---|---|---|
| Year introduced | 2017 | 2021 (prototype), 2024 (commercial) |
| Height | 175 cm | 160 cm |
| Weight | 95 kg | 35 to 40 kg |
| Total degrees of freedom | 32 | 28 |
| Actuator type | Rotary with torque sensors | Linear ball-screw with force sensors |
| Kinematic chain | Open (serial) | Closed (serial-parallel hybrid) |
| Arm payload | 6 kg per arm | 5 kg |
| Walking speed | Up to 3 km/h | Not disclosed (optimized for dynamic gaits) |
| Battery life | 1.5 hours walking / 3 hours standby | 4 to 6 hours |
| Control loop | 2 kHz (up to 5 kHz) | 2 kHz (up to 5 kHz) |
| Primary purpose | Industrial manipulation, torque control research | Dynamic locomotion, jumping, running research |
| Weight-to-DOF ratio | 2.97 kg/DOF | 1.25 to 1.43 kg/DOF |
The shift from rotary to linear actuators in closed kinematic chains gives Kangaroo several advantages for dynamic tasks. Placing motors near the pelvis reduces leg inertia significantly, enabling faster leg swing and more efficient energy use during locomotion. The trade-off is reduced maximum payload and a shorter overall height, reflecting the different research priorities of the two platforms.[2][6][12]
In 2025, PAL Robotics released the Kangaroo Pro, an upgraded variant featuring a full dual-arm configuration. While the base Kangaroo focused primarily on bipedal locomotion research with optional arm and torso degrees of freedom, the Pro version ships as a complete upper-body humanoid with manipulation capabilities, positioning it as a legged manipulator for dynamic tasks.[5][17]
The Pro variant has been demonstrated at major robotics conferences and trade shows, including Automatica 2025 in Munich (June 2025) and the Conference on Robot Learning (CoRL) 2025 and IEEE Humanoids 2025 in Seoul. At these events, PAL Robotics showcased Kangaroo Pro alongside its TIAGo Pro mobile manipulator, highlighting advances in robot learning, AI, and human-robot interaction.[17][18]
Kangaroo plays a central role in the PRIMI (Performance in Robotics Interaction via Mental Imagery) initiative, a Horizon Europe-funded project running from November 2023 through December 2027. PRIMI aims to integrate advanced neuromorphic technologies into robotic systems, combining research from neurophysiology, psychology, and machine learning to develop models for higher-order cognitive capabilities in robots.[4][19]
Within the PRIMI framework, Kangaroo is being equipped with several advanced technologies:
The project plans to validate these technologies through clinical pilot studies focusing on robot-assisted stroke rehabilitation, where Kangaroo will be fitted with a head module for neurological rehabilitation functions in hospital settings.[4][19]
The Technical University of Vienna (TU Wien) became the first institution to receive a commercial Kangaroo unit in mid-2024. The PAL Robotics team visited TU Wien to assist with the robot's setup and provide hands-on training for researchers. TU Wien's acquisition was funded through Austria's research infrastructure program, and the robot is being used for advanced bipedal locomotion studies.[3][20]
The Kangaroo platform has also been the subject of academic papers, including research presented at ICRA (International Conference on Robotics and Automation) in both 2021 and 2022. At the 6th Workshop on Legged Robots during ICRA 2022 in Philadelphia, PAL Robotics presented work on the hardware design and control architecture, demonstrating Kangaroo performing jumping motions using the Whole Body Inverse Dynamics controller.[13][15] A subsequent 2023 paper on arXiv detailed the modeling and numerical analysis of the Kangaroo lower body, analyzing the constrained dynamics of the hybrid serial-parallel floating-base system and comparing Cartesian inertia properties at the feet with those of TALOS.[12]
Prior to Kangaroo's development, PAL Robotics' work on the EU Memmo project with TALOS laid important groundwork. The University of Edinburgh's Learning and Motor Control Group has been working with PAL Robotics platforms since 2021, contributing to research in joint torque control, whole-body inverse dynamics, and multi-contact motion planning. Lessons learned from TALOS deployments at Edinburgh and LAAS-CNRS directly influenced the design priorities for Kangaroo, particularly in the areas of impact resilience and dynamic motion capability.[11][15]
Kangaroo enters a global humanoid robotics market that has seen rapid growth and intensifying competition. MarketsandMarkets projects the humanoid robot market to reach $18 billion by 2030, up from roughly $2 billion in 2024, representing a compound annual growth rate exceeding 39%.[21]
Major competitors in the full-size humanoid space include:
Kangaroo differentiates itself from many of these competitors by targeting the research market rather than direct industrial deployment. Its open ROS-based software stack, modular hardware with optional arms and sensors, and emphasis on researcher accessibility position it as a platform for universities and labs studying fundamental locomotion and artificial intelligence problems. In this research-focused niche, its closest competitors include the iCub humanoid from the Italian Institute of Technology and various legged platforms from Agility Robotics (for locomotion research specifically), Boston Dynamics (Spot), and Unitree (Go2, B2).[2][11]
As a European company, PAL Robotics occupies a distinctive position in a market increasingly dominated by American and Chinese firms. The company's participation in over 60 EU-funded research projects and its deep integration with the European robotics ecosystem through initiatives like euROBIN provide a collaborative network that few competitors can match in the European research market.[5][8]