Posted on 07/29/2005 1:00:30 PM PDT by D521646
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 Ishiguro 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 Ishiguro, 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 Ishiguro 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 Ishiguro 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."
We already have female androids in the USA -they're known as "Nancy Pelosi" and "Hilary Clinton" and "Barbara Boxer" and "Janet Reno"..... none of them are believed to be genuine human life forms.........
New "Corporate Recruitment Tool"
Super.
Will she love me? If so, then all I need is like $5000.
I somehow have the curious misfortune of real women not liking me for some reason.
I guess they didn't want the lab techs (and the cleaning people) getting any ideas. There's something wrong with one of her eyes, her nose is too wide, her mouth looks off, and those hands are enormous. And she definitely has has a wardrobe malfunction. I buy my wife nicer stuff at the Salvation Army store.
And sitting so politely with her pants still on! Answer is - I dont know but I was wondering the same thing.
This is news? An old buddy of mine had a female android.
Well, that's what he called it.
It can not stand.
I think the maker is envisioning it as an automated receptionist or "ticket counter"
Imagine using this to replace the ticket sales person at a movie theater. No breaks, and you can used the existing set up of cash register and buttons.
Imagine sticking this on wheels having it pick grapes...
It all depends on how good the hands work for labor.
The Bill Clinton model would have to kneel.
Love you long time.
I think the toilet is actually a battery charger. She sits down on a giant plu that goes into her jack. Or would it be her jill? Am I going to get censored?
plu -> plug
THERE ARE MANY COPIES
Your copy is much better than theirs.
I am envious of your job, building robots would be too
cool.
I have a question about the Japanese robot......
Do you think that is her real hair?
but not stand.(/s)
Seriously, If I could have a competent Robot receptionist which would not offend the clients it would be worth it IF it was less expensive than an employee. I could eliminate the "PC" and sue happy employee for the machine who will do "her" job and not have to worry about the boyfriend, daycare, husband, mother, father, or any other human baggage. And "she" will not throw a hissy fit getting coffee for you and the clients.
It is just a question of where can a human shapped robot/androd be used(save the dirty comments folks)?
Without the dirty comments, this is a good concept.
"Shut up, Stella!"
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