Engineering:Ricky Ma

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Short description: Hong Kong-born Canadian designer and robotic hobbyist


Ricky Ma (Chinese: 馬子恒) is a Hong Kong-born Canadian designer and independent robotic hobbyist, known for creating a life-sized humanoid robot named Mark 1. He is noted as one of the first individuals to build a full-scale humanoid robot independently, without institutional or corporate backing.[1]

Biography

Ricky Ma has a background in product and graphic design, with over 25 years of experience in the industry. Influenced by Japanese animation during his youth—particularly the series Plawres Sanshiro—he developed an early interest in robotics.[citation needed]

In his spare time, Ma taught himself skills such as electronics, mechanics, programming, and 3D printing. Over approximately 18 months, he constructed Mark 1, a humanoid robot that could respond to voice commands, perform simple facial movements, and display basic expressions. Around 70% of the robot’s parts were produced using 3D printing. The robot drew public attention for its resemblance to the well-known actress Scarlett Johansson, although Ma stated that any likeness was unintentional.[2][3]

Media coverage

Mark 1 and Ricky Ma have been featured in various international media outlets, including:

- Reuters[1] - International Business Times[4] - Global News Canada[5] - South China Morning Post[2] - CBS News[3] - Inverse[6] - Interesting Engineering[7]

Recognition

As of 2025, Ricky is one of the few individuals known to have independently developed a lifelike humanoid robot for artistic and experimental purposes. His project has been referenced in media coverage and discussions relating to personal robotics and the intersection of art and technology.[6][4][5]

In 2018, Ricky delivered a presentation at the IdeaCity conference in Toronto, discussing the creation process and vision behind Mark 1.[8]

Subsequent projects

Following the completion of Mark 1, Ricky continued to explore the integration of robotics and art. In 2022, he initiated the MechaArt Nexus project, aiming to further investigate the convergence of mechanical engineering and artistic expression. This endeavor seeks to challenge traditional perceptions of robotics by emphasizing their potential as mediums of creative storytelling and cultural reflection.[9]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Yen for animation inspired Hong Kong designer's robot". 2016-03-31. https://www.reuters.com/article/technology/yen-for-animation-inspired-hong-kong-designers-robot-idUSKCN0WY3VF/. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Scarlett Johansson Android Creator Ricky Ma on Innovation and Sex". 2016-04-01. https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2037917/scarlett-johansson-android-creator-ricky-ma-innovation-and-sex. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Meet the Scarlett Johansson humanoid robot". 4 April 2016. https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/meet-the-scarlett-johansson-humanoid-robot-hong-kong-ricky-ma/. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Meet Mark 1: $50,000 3D-printed humanoid robot that looks eerily like Scarlett Johansson". 2016-03-30. https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/meet-mark-1-50000-3d-printed-humanoid-robot-that-looks-eerily-like-scarlett-johansson-1552710. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Scarlett Johansson robot: Hong Kong man builds celebrity replica". 2016-03-31. https://globalnews.ca/news/2619330/scarlett-johansson-robot-hong-kong-man-builds-celebrity-replica/. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Hong Kong Man Built A Lifelike Scarlett Johansson Robot And It's…Something". 2016-04-01. https://www.inverse.com/article/13674-hong-kong-man-scarlett-johansen. 
  7. ↑ "Scarlett Johansson Robot is the Creepiest Thing Ever". 2016-03-31. https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/scarlett-johansson-robot-creepiest-thing-ever. 
  8. ↑ "Ricky Ma – IdeaCity Conference". https://ideacity.ca/speaker/ricky-ma/. 
  9. ↑ "2025proposals" (in en-CA). https://www.mark1robotic.com/2025proposals. 



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