Ultra-Lifelike Robot Debuts in Japan
 

June 10, 2005—Quick, which one is the robot?
Repliee Q1 (at left in both pictures) appeared yesterday at the 2005 World Expo in Japan, where she gestured, blinked, spoke, and even appeared to breathe. Shown with co-creator Hiroshi Ishiguru of Osaka University, the android is partially covered in skinlike silicone. Q1 is powered by a nearby air compressor, and has 31 points of articulation in its upper body.

Internal sensors allow the android to react "naturally." It can block an attempted slap, for example. But it's the little, "unconscious" movements that give the robot its eerie verisimilitude: the slight flutter of the eyelids, the subtle rising and falling of the chest, the constant, nearly imperceptible shifting so familiar to humans.

Surrounded by machines that draw portraits, swat fast-moving balls, and snake through debris, Q1 is only one of the showstoppers at the expo's Prototype Robot Exposition, which aims to showcase Japan's growing role in the robotics industry.

But given Q1's reported glitch-related "spasms" at the expo, it may be a while before androids are escorting tour groups or looking after children—which may be just as well. "When a robot looks too much like the real thing, it's creepy," Hiroshi told the Associated Press.

—Ted Chamberlain

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...0610_robot.jpg

I've always found robotics fascinating, and freaky to a degree, but that's the fun part. This is just wierd. Now I need to find a video.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/n...610_robot.html

The robot needs to learn how to dress... those gloves don't go with that outfit.

She looks machanical, but the difference from previous robots of this type is pretty huge. I need to find a video to really tell though.

Wow! That's really interesting and fascinating! I would love to see how she is in person. :)

Silly Japan. You make life-like robots, but WHERE ARE THE GIANT ROBOTS?!?! I WANNA PILOT A GUNDAM!

I want one as a pet. And She will be dressed in Gothic Lolita style 24/7.

of course she'll mostly be doing housework, so I may as well put her in goodwill clothes.
[Shouldn't own a robot]

Well, I'd get one for my room, and well....n/m

Could this be the dawn of Persocoms! :D

http://www.dottocomu.com/b/archives/000744.html

There ya go :lol:

These gloves are horrible... She looks as if she has buttons on her palms...

... or maybe she has ones? :o

http://ed-02.ams.eng.osaka-u.ac.jp/l...lieeQ1_eng.htm

Found a couple of videos of her in motion. Freaky. :o

Wow, and I thought that this white astronaut thing was the most human androids get these days. I want Data, simply because he knows everything.

Until robots can effortlessly move from a big wheeler to a badass-cyborg with a deep voice, I'll stay away.

Okay, the arm movements are impressive but the mouth and face motions are like anything you'd see at any Chuck E. Cheese pizza time band.

That's why I plan to put one in Gothic Lolita clothing ;)
Im d/ling the videos now...

Annnnnnnd cue the end of the world....

Pretty soon it'll be:
"Are robots capable of murder? Respond."
"I did not murder him!"
"Are robots capable of murder? respond!"
"I DID NOT MURDER HIM!" (slams firsts on table)
"mm-hmm"

Either that or it'll be a dream come true for those lonely guys who can't get a date to prom... not that I can't.. It'd just be nice, that's all... er, um..

I can't get the bloody videos to work, they're taking forever.

So much for Latveria's 'amazing' technology.

BURN! :lol: