Gizmodo: androids

Happy Birthday, Horrifying Japanese Child Bot: You're Two

John Mahoney — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 13:00:00 EDT

Since we first met Child Robot with Biomimetic Body (CB2), he's been taking a lot in through the black pools of terror he uses for eyes: The little guy's taught himself to walk. Yikes.

CB2 is one of Japan's most advanced robotics projects—using 197 sensors under its pallid gray skin, eye-cameras, 51 pneumatic "muscles" and the high-end processing power to drive it all, it has learned to recognize facial expressions, follow the gaze of its "mother" and even teach itself to walk. Says PhysOrg:

[Osaka University professor Minoru Asada], also a member of the Japanese Society of Baby Science, said his team has made progress on other fronts since first presenting CB2 to the world in 2007.

In the two years since then, he said, CB2 has taught itself how to walk with the aid of a human and can now move its body through a room quite smoothly, using 51 "muscles" driven by air pressure.

In coming decades, Asada expects science will come up with a "robo species" that has learning abilities somewhere between those of a human and other primate species such as the chimpanzee.

It also talks:

Thank goodness Christian Bale will be able to protect us in the future. Until then I'll be hiding in an underground bunker. [PhysOrg]

Robots Will Be Taking Care of Your Grandma in Five Years

Elaine Chow — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 01:30:00 EDT

The Japanese government is planning to put robots to practical use in Japanese households in as soon as five years, and has already begun formulating the political agencies needed to oversee robot safety standards.

According to a government panel on Wednesday, the robots are needed to provide day-care and nursing services to Japan's rapidly aging population. Since over 41 billion of the projected 62 billion dollar robot market is supposed to be dedicated to care, it's important to start thinking of the regulations that need to be put in place.

For instance, Three Laws of (Nursing) Robotics:

1. Always coo appreciatively at pictures of your human's grandchildren
2. DON'T TALK SO DAMN LOUD
3. Be spongebath safe

[Japan Today]

Japanese Elementary School Kids Now Being Taught by Saya the Robot

Elaine Chow — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 03:23:09 EDT

Elementary school teachers watch out. Japan's trying to make you obsolete! In lieu of a real flesh and blood person, one primary class in Tokyo is now getting a robot teacher named Saya.

Saya has 18 motors hidden behind her latex face which can help her express emotions that run the gamut from approval to anger. She can also speak different languages, carry out roll calls and set tasks for her robot-fearing pupils.

Apparently, Saya took 15 years for science professor Hiroshi Kobayashi to create. She is one of various robots being designed to take over human jobs in Japan in an effort to deliver a cheaper workforce as the Japanese population ages.

Call me a traditionalist, but something unnerves me about using a robot teacher on little kids. Sure, Saya might be less inclined to show favoritism or get snappy, but isn't there something about human emotion-something no facial motors could ever replicate-that students are supposed to learn from a young age? If Saya gets rolled out to other schools, what would be be unintentionally depriving these children of? [Telegraph]

Life-Size Star Wars Droids Can Speak, Drain Wallets

gizmodo.com — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 16:00:00 EDT

Sideshow Collectibles stopped just short of encasing Anthony Daniels and Kenny Baker in fiberglass when they created these life-size C-3PO and R2-D2 collectibles. Due out later this year, the authentic figures are powered by lowly AA batteries and have working lights. They also make sounds from the movies and utter the characters' classic catchphrases, like "beep" and "whistle" and "OVER HERE!" All this can be part of your private Star Wars collection for the galaxy-sized price tags of $5,950 for C-3PO and $5,450 for his smaller, quieter counterpart. [Sideshow Collectibles C-3PO and R2-D2]

Launch of Hitachi's EMIEW 2 Robot Goes a Bit Awry

AddyDugdale — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 16:00:48 EST

Its full name is Excellent Mobility and Interactive Existence as Workmate, and this second-gen version of Hitachi's EMIEW office worker robot is a lot better looking than the original. At its launch today, however, things didn't quite go to plan, and what was meant to be a showcase in up-to-the-minute robot fabulousness turned into a ZOMG-I-think-it's-drunk moment.

Due to the unprecedented number of hits on the Hitachi website (everyone wanting a piece of the 31-inch high, 29-pound robot, I suppose), EMIEW 2's wireless communications took a beating, and the little android crashed into its desk, meaning he had to be put through his paces later on in the day.

The Mk 2 version sports Transformer-style legs and a weird face that looks like it's begging to have a Hello Kitty bow and whiskers drawn on it. It can get on its knees — something I always look for when I'm on the hunt for a new slave — as well as lift its feet over obstacles that are an inch off the ground. There's also a built-in radar system that, when it is working properly, stops it from bumping into objects in the room. [Pink Tentacle]