'Hi-tech robot' at Russia forum turns out to be man in suit

The Guardian ^ | Wed 12 December | Andrew Roth

[Krosan]

State television praised the ‘modern’ tech despite photos revealing actor in costume

A “hi-tech robot” shown on Russian state television has turned out to be a man in a suit.

Russia-24 praised the ersatz android during coverage of a youth forum dedicated to robotics, boasting that “Robot Boris has already learned to dance and he’s not that bad”.

But sharp-eyed bloggers were dubious. The Russian website TJournal listed questions about the robot’s performance: Where were Boris’s external sensors? Why did the robot make so many “unnecessary movements” while dancing?

And why did the robot look like a person would fit perfectly inside of it?

Later, photographs of the “robot” posted on social media showed the very visible neckline of the person in the suit.

[gaijin]

Sounds like something Iran would pull.

[Slyfox]

It's been done before:

[SaveFerris]

Maybe the Russians HACKED 'Robot Boris'!!!! Did ya think about that one!!!

[BenLurkin]

[a fool in paradise]

Didn’t American corporations pull this stunt for 50 years?

[billorites]

[ETL]

The late Bob May

[nwrep]

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[SaveFerris]

And somebody was making replicas years back.

If only I was a multi-millionaire.....lol

Seems like they were about $35,000 but I don’t remember exactly how much right now.

[SaveFerris]

We just made a perfect replica of Rock Ridge.

Except there’s no people....

[ETL]

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[SaveFerris]

Went to another city for a job interview in 1999. After the interview (and then watching a gun battle next to a restaurant) I retired to my hotel room.

They had “Forbidden Planet” on and the special guest was Anne Francis.

So, apparently Robby the Robot may have also scored four touchdowns in a single game for the Polk High Panthers in 1966.

[gnarledmaw]

Could be. Some people come to wild conclusions based on what they experience all on their own. Over 30 years ago, I was standing in a chow line at the mess hall. I could hear a sergeant a few people up ahead telling the jeeps from his area about the conversations he had had with an incredibly advanced AI that the military had developed. You guessed it, I was that “AI”. Im not sure how he came to that conclusion or why it didn’t dawn on him that there might be a person on the other end. He was so impressed that Im sure to this day hes telling people about the incredibly advanced system that was in use back then and by now Im sure that the story has become one about reverse engineered alien technology.

[SaveFerris]

That’s about how many I need!

To guard my Boss 429 Mach 1 - when I get that too, LOL

[ETL]

Lol! Nice story.