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Japanese scientists develop humanoid to keep astronauts company
The Telegraph ^ | 12/2/12 | Julian Ryall

Posted on 12/02/2012 4:10:02 PM PST by null and void


Astronaut Koichi Wakata and an artist's impression of the robot Photo: EPA

The 13-inch android is scheduled to be completed by next summer and will be sent to the orbiting ISS shortly before astronaut Koichi Wakata arrives, according to officials of the Kibo Robot Project.

Currently being developed by a consortium of companies, including Toyota, Robo Garage Co. and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, the robot will weigh around 2.2lbs and be able to recognise Wakata's facial features.

It will then have the ability to communicate with the astronaut in Japanese and take photographs during their stay on the space station.

A second android will be developed at the same time to serve as a backup and to demonstrate the device's capabilities to audiences here on Earth.

In a statement, the organisers said the robot will be designed to "help solve social problems through communication".

"The main objective is that humans can talk to it and feel some sort of closeness to it," the developers said. "That is why we decided to give it a humanoid shape."

Through the project's web page – http://kibo-robo.jp/en/ – organisers are calling on members of the public to give the robot a name before it is sent on its mission.

(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Japan; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS:
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Shade of Sirent Running...
1 posted on 12/02/2012 4:10:11 PM PST by null and void
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To: null and void

Rightttttt...

And those ingenious Japs also make some realistic sex dolls that can also speak, so which would an astronaut prefer on a 2 year journey to Mars?


2 posted on 12/02/2012 4:12:44 PM PST by Eye of Unk (A Civil Cold War in America is here, its already been declared.)
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To: null and void
he robot will be designed to "help solve social problems through communication".

Just what I've always wanted:

A Japanese love doll with OnStar.

3 posted on 12/02/2012 4:13:32 PM PST by billorites (freepo ergo sum)
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To: null and void
I have come up with a better idea.


4 posted on 12/02/2012 4:14:02 PM PST by KC_Lion (Build the America you want to live in at your address, and keep looking up.-Sarah Palin)
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To: Eye of Unk

It would get to be a snow globe in there real fast.(so say’s nully’s kid)...


5 posted on 12/02/2012 4:14:12 PM PST by null and void (Going Galt: The won't of the people)
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To: null and void

6 posted on 12/02/2012 4:14:12 PM PST by Doogle ((USAF.68-73..8th TFW Ubon Thailand..never store a threat you should have eliminated))
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To: null and void

7 posted on 12/02/2012 4:15:37 PM PST by teflon9 (Political campaigns should follow Johnny Mercer's advice--Accentuate the positive.)
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To: null and void

Can it sing ‘Daisy Bell’?


8 posted on 12/02/2012 4:15:37 PM PST by Riley (The Fourth Estate is the Fifth Column.)
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To: null and void
I thought they already created one:


9 posted on 12/02/2012 4:15:37 PM PST by freedumb2003 (Here comes bama claus here comes bama claus left down bama claus lane!)
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To: KC_Lion

What is it? Like the Orb in Sleeper?


10 posted on 12/02/2012 4:15:48 PM PST by ffusco (The President will return this country to what it once was...An arctic wasteland covered in ice.)
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To: KC_Lion; weighted Companion Cube

Weighed Companion Cube. That would be my kid’s FR screen name.


11 posted on 12/02/2012 4:15:57 PM PST by null and void (Going Galt: The won't of the people)
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To: null and void
He must be properly dressed for the MISSION!


12 posted on 12/02/2012 4:16:44 PM PST by Young Werther (Julius Caesar said "Quae cum ita sunt. Since these things are so.".)
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To: Eye of Unk
Oh, lemme think...

Real-life crazy astronut in a diaper...

or faux fox with off switch...


13 posted on 12/02/2012 4:17:44 PM PST by billorites (freepo ergo sum)
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To: null and void

In this PC world, they will realize that the “created” humanoid will not have companionship of his own kind. So they will make a militant femanist version to keep the humanoid company. The original will “discover” that it is gay, and the astronaut will lock himself in his room to be away from the 2 of them.


14 posted on 12/02/2012 4:20:00 PM PST by mountn man (ATTITUDE- The Pleasure You Get From Life, Is Equal To The Attitude You Put Into It.)
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To: ffusco; weighted Companion Cube; null and void
That my FRiend, is a Weighted Companion Cube.

He Never threats to Murder you, call you fat or stab you in the back.

He is a really good friend.


15 posted on 12/02/2012 4:21:03 PM PST by KC_Lion (Build the America you want to live in at your address, and keep looking up.-Sarah Palin)
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To: null and void

16 posted on 12/02/2012 4:25:03 PM PST by Bratch
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To: teflon9; null and void

Why would the Japanese need robots? To them middle school does just as well.


17 posted on 12/02/2012 4:27:24 PM PST by GeronL (http://asspos.blogspot.com)
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To: null and void
Can't believe nobody has posted a reference to Galexina yet.


18 posted on 12/02/2012 4:27:46 PM PST by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: null and void
"My girl robot ..."

How about a Cherry 2000 to go?

19 posted on 12/02/2012 4:31:24 PM PST by NonValueAdded (Happy 10th FR birthday to meeeeeeeeee)
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To: null and void

Cherry 2000


20 posted on 12/02/2012 4:33:44 PM PST by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open (<o> ---)
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