Child-sized social design
KASPAR is a child-size robot with a silicone-rubber face. It does not hide its mechanical parts, which are clearly visible, according to a 2008 Industrial Robot article. [2]
Price & availability
University of Hertfordshire has not published a price
Pilot deployments only
Current dataset status: Pilot.
Product overview
About University of Hertfordshire KASPAR
KASPAR is a child-sized social humanoid robot developed at the University of Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom. The 2019 paper Developing Kaspar says the robot was first developed in 2005 as a human-robot interaction research platform and describes successive generations through K5.5. The K5 configuration is about 56 cm tall and has 22 degrees of freedom: six around the eyes and eyelids, two in the mouth, three in the neck, five in each arm and one in the torso.
The robot is designed for work with children, particularly children with autism. K5 uses 15 force-sensing resistors across the hands, arms, legs, feet, chest and face. Two 12 V, 7 Ah lithium-iron-phosphate batteries provide up to seven hours of use and normally take six hours to recharge. K5.5 added magnets to the hands to hold accessories, and the paper reports that the platform had been used with more than 300 children.
KASPAR remains a research and trial platform rather than a commercial product. The University describes work in schools, homes and hospitals, but no sale price, order page or distributor is published. Its use in real-world trials supports a pilot classification.
Capabilities
Key features
Articulated head, arms and torso
The K5 generation has 22 DoF: six around the eyes and eyelids, two in the mouth, three in the neck, five in each arm and one in the torso. [1]
Used with autistic children
The K5.5 generation has been used with more than 300 children in a number of capacities, including a nursery school, according to the 2019 paper. [1]
Developed since 2005
KASPAR was first developed in 2005 and went through several generations, from K1 to K5.5, as a research platform. [1]
Hardware profile
Specifications
Official — stated by the manufacturer or organizerReported — stated by a credible third partyEstimated — derived or approximate
Body
- Height
- 56 cmReported — stated by a credible third party[1]K5 generation, about 56 cm high, 34 cm wide and 40 cm deep per the 2019 paper
Power
- Battery
- 0.17 kWhEstimated — derived or approximate[1]Calculated from two 12 V, 7 Ah LiFePO4 batteries: 2 × 12 V × 7 Ah = 168 Wh
- Runtime
- 7 hReported — stated by a credible third party[1]Up to seven hours for the K5 configuration
- Charge time
- 6 hReported — stated by a credible third party[1]Normal recharge time; the paper notes a faster 7 A charger was being investigated
Hands & Manipulation
- DoF per hand
- 0Reported — stated by a credible third party[1]K5/K5.5 hands have no articulated finger joints; K5.5 uses magnets to hold accessories
- Hand / end effector
- Fixed silicone-covered hands; K5.5 adds magnets for accessoriesReported — stated by a credible third party[1]
Compute & Sensing
- Sensors
- 15 force-sensing resistors on the hands, arms, legs, feet, chest and faceReported — stated by a credible third party[1]K5 configuration described in the 2019 paper
Show unknown fields (8)
Body
- Weight
- Not published
Mobility
- Maximum speed
- Not published
- Peak joint torque
- Not published
- Actuation
- Not published
Power
- Swappable battery
- Not published
Hands & Manipulation
- Payload
- Not published
Compute & Sensing
- Onboard compute
- Not published
- AI stack
- Not published
Quick answers
University of Hertfordshire KASPAR FAQ
Can you buy University of Hertfordshire KASPAR?
No general order page is verified. University of Hertfordshire KASPAR is currently classified as pilot. [3]
How long does the University of Hertfordshire KASPAR battery last?
The stated runtime is 7 hours per charge; Up to seven hours for the K5 configuration. [1]
How many degrees of freedom does University of Hertfordshire KASPAR have?
University of Hertfordshire KASPAR has 22 listed degrees of freedom; K5 total: eyes and eyelids (6), mouth (2), neck (3), arms (5 each) and torso (1). [1]
Who makes University of Hertfordshire KASPAR?
University of Hertfordshire KASPAR is made by University of Hertfordshire, based in United Kingdom. [3]
Side by side
Compare University of Hertfordshire KASPAR
Choose up to four robots for a sourced specification and price comparison.
Evaluation footprint
Benchmarks & competitions
No benchmark embodiments or results reference this robot yet.
Related
Similar robots
Evidence
Sources
- [1]Developing Kaspar: A Humanoid Robot for Children with Autism ↗International Journal of Social Robotics (via PubMed Central) · paper · accessed Oct 8, 2026
- [2]'Kaspar' the robot helps autistic kids play ↗Emerald Publishing (Industrial Robot) · paper · accessed Oct 8, 2026
- [3]KASPAR ↗University of Hertfordshire · official · accessed Oct 8, 2026