Ultra-lifelike robot debuts in Japan

[The Man]

Oh, those crazy Japanese

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

[Flying Mullet]

Wow, that's cool.

[The Man]

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

[SomethingBig]

I wonder if it can do you know what. :joey:

I remember seeing this on SA. It sure is amazing how far science has come. I also remember seeing a japanese inventor create a giant, walking robot that has squirt guns built in.

[Dr.K]

That's intriguing, it'll certainly be interesting to see how they'll refine the technology over the coming years.
Although I'd agree with the creator saying "When a robot looks too much like the real thing, it's creepy". That'd be my only qualm.

[Shlup]

That's a pretty sweet bot.

[XxSephirothxX]

That's pretty amazing.

[My name is...something..?]

Sweeet!
Technology's coming along so freaking fast.

[Shlup]

Actually, after having watched the video, I'm not sure I'm that impressed. I've seen robots at least that good at Disneyland.

[Shoeberto]

When I saw the picture, my first thought was: Realdoll.

[The Man]

I'm not sure you were alone in thinking that.

[My name is...something..?]

I just watched one of the videos.
It's creepy seeing it talk to the camera.

[Super Christ]

I am not very impressed. I'll grant that there has been tremendous progress in the field, and this thing is not merely superior but vastly superior to anything you'd have seen 5 to 7 years ago, but I won't be impressed until they can actually fool me into thinking it's a person. And not just in pictures, not just in video even - but actually interacting and talking to it. Once they can do that, that's where things start to get interesting.

[Lionx]

Well theres always the rich man's alternatives to blow up dolls. So whens the Katsumi one out?

[theundeadhero]

I wish I could of asked that robot to prom. It would have been funner than my real date