Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Japanese develop 'female' android
BBC News ^ | 07/27/2005 | David Whitehouse

Posted on 07/27/2005 11:51:46 AM PDT by WaveMan

Japanese scientists have unveiled the most human-looking robot yet devised - a "female" android called Repliee Q1.

She has flexible silicone for skin rather than hard plastic, and a number of sensors and motors to allow her to turn and react in a human-like manner.

She can flutter her eyelids and move her hands like a human. She even appears to breathe.

Professor Hiroshi Ishiguru of Osaka University says one day robots could fool us into believing they are human.

Repliee Q1 is not like any robot you will have seen before, at least outside of science-fiction movies.

She is designed to look human and although she can only sit at present, she has 31 actuators in her upper body, powered by a nearby air compressor, programmed to allow her to move like a human.

"I have developed many robots before," Repliee Q1's designer, Professor Ishiguru, told the BBC News website, "but I soon realised the importance of its appearance. A human-like appearance gives a robot a strong feeling of presence."

Designed to look human

Before Repliee Q1, Professor Ishiguru developed Repliee R1 which had the appearance of a five-year-old Japanese girl.

Its head could move in nine directions and it could gesture with its arm. Four high-sensitivity tactile sensors were placed under the skin of its left arm that made the android react differently to differing pressures.

The follow-up has the appearance of a Japanese woman. To program her motion, a computer analysed the motions of a human and used them as a template for the way Repliee Q1 moves.

She can be designed to follow the movement of a human wearing motion sensors or to act independently.

"Repliee Q1 can interact with people. It can respond to people touching it. It's very satisfying, although we obviously have a long way to go yet."

Professor Ishiguru believes that it may prove possible to build an android that could pass for a human, if only for a brief period.

"An android could get away with it for a short time, 5-10 seconds. However, if we carefully select the situation, we could extend that, to perhaps 10 minutes," he said.

"More importantly, we have found that people forget she is an android while interacting with her. Consciously, it is easy to see that she is an android, but unconsciously, we react to the android as if she were a woman."


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: android; butdoesshedodishes; donttelllaz; iwantablond; robot; whotoldlaz; willshecleanhouse; willsheputout; zaq
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 81-100101-120121-140 ... 241 next last
To: WaveMan

Extra points to anybody that gets this obscure joke.

101 posted on 07/27/2005 12:30:44 PM PDT by zbigreddogz
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TheForceOfOne

LOL! good one!


102 posted on 07/27/2005 12:30:58 PM PDT by OXENinFLA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 100 | View Replies]

To: WaveMan

Klintoon is already on a flight to Japan -- he would like a date with this babe -- figures just remove her batteries when he's done with her so she can't sue him ...


103 posted on 07/27/2005 12:33:49 PM PDT by Babu
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: OXENinFLA

Where is Harrison Ford when you really need him?


104 posted on 07/27/2005 12:33:49 PM PDT by freepertoo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 102 | View Replies]

To: Sensei Ern

I haven't got time to correspond more. My robot girlfriend is expecting our first R2 unit.


105 posted on 07/27/2005 12:33:50 PM PDT by Sensei Ern (Christian, Comedian, Husband,Opa, Dog Owner, former Cat Co-dweller, and all around good guy.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 99 | View Replies]

To: OXENinFLA

Don't lose that CD.


106 posted on 07/27/2005 12:34:37 PM PDT by RightWhale (Substance is essentially the relationship of accidents to itself)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: WaveMan

Some of us already exist.


107 posted on 07/27/2005 12:35:12 PM PDT by cyborg (That's Mrs.Petronski to you thank you very much.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: WaveMan

Able to calculate 100 billion operations per second, the new android nevertheless can't decide anything.


108 posted on 07/27/2005 12:35:32 PM PDT by coloradan (Hence, etc.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: WaveMan

And they named her Chii...


109 posted on 07/27/2005 12:40:52 PM PDT by Seamoth
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: spower
Which one is the android?

And which one is the female?

Japanese men are supposed to have on average the world's smallest penises. No wonder they need to create elaborate sex dolls.

110 posted on 07/27/2005 12:42:54 PM PDT by montag813
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: dead
Its head could move in nine directions

Two is plenty.

You owe me a new keyboard.

111 posted on 07/27/2005 12:43:40 PM PDT by Modernman ("A conservative government is an organized hypocrisy." -Disraeli)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: mad puppy

ping! You gotta read some of these replies! LOL


112 posted on 07/27/2005 12:44:25 PM PDT by SirChas
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: WaveMan

113 posted on 07/27/2005 12:47:10 PM PDT by WestVirginiaRebel (Carnac: A siren, a baby and a liberal. Answer: Name three things that whine.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JohnnyZ
I'll see your Boomer and raise you Six.


114 posted on 07/27/2005 12:48:15 PM PDT by Modernman ("A conservative government is an organized hypocrisy." -Disraeli)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 55 | View Replies]

To: SirChas
She's fake. Most women are already like that, so what's the difference?

(Ducks and runs for cover)

115 posted on 07/27/2005 12:51:20 PM PDT by WestVirginiaRebel (Carnac: A siren, a baby and a liberal. Answer: Name three things that whine.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 112 | View Replies]

To: WestVirginiaRebel
She's fake. Most women are already like that, so what's the difference?

This one has a major advantage over real women: She comes with an off-switch.

116 posted on 07/27/2005 12:53:09 PM PDT by Modernman ("A conservative government is an organized hypocrisy." -Disraeli)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 115 | View Replies]

To: WaveMan

I'd be deathly afraid of the "Blue Screen of Death" at an in-opportune moment ...


117 posted on 07/27/2005 12:53:54 PM PDT by so_real ("The Congress of the United States recommends and approves the Holy Bible for use in all schools.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #118 Removed by Moderator

To: WaveMan

and best of all..she never has a headache..


119 posted on 07/27/2005 12:54:04 PM PDT by ken5050 (Ann Coulter needs to have children ASAP to pass on her gene pool....any volunteers?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: taxed2death
....yea, but can she adjust the valves on my Ducati?Yes, but only if it's a air-cooled two valve. The 3 and 4 valve models will require the version 2.0 of the fembot.
120 posted on 07/27/2005 12:54:33 PM PDT by Jack Black
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 81-100101-120121-140 ... 241 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson