Company profile
Schaft
Schaft developed humanoid robots, was acquired by Google, and remained with Alphabet until the programme was wound down after a proposed SoftBank sale did...
Facts
- Segment
- HUMANOID
- Country
- Japan
- Headquarters
- Tokyo
About Schaft
Schaft developed high-torque humanoid robots for mobility and disaster-response research. Its S-One platform used compact liquid-cooled electric actuators and a mechanically strong body to walk over debris, climb ladders, operate tools and complete other tasks from the DARPA Robotics Challenge. The robot won the programme’s 2013 trials.
Google acquired Schaft as part of its robotics expansion, and the company later remained within Alphabet. A proposed sale to SoftBank did not close, and Alphabet subsequently wound down the programme. Schaft no longer operates, but its actuator and whole-body-control work remains part of the historical development of modern humanoid systems.
Summary
Type: humanoid robotics company
Core: Humanoid prototypes
Function: Locomotion
Audience: Researchers
Research, Articles and recent verified events
- Alphabet confirms closure of Schaft robotics unit — 2018-11-14
- SoftBank agrees to acquire Schaft from Alphabet — 2017-06-09
- Schaft demonstrates compact biped carrying 60-kilogram payload — 2016-04-08
- DARPA confirms Google acquisition of Schaft — 2014-04-08
- Schaft S-One finishes first in DARPA Robotics Challenge Trials — 2013-12-21