Posts Tagged ‘androids’
Video: Japan’s New Goateed Geminoid Robot Is Uncomfortably Realistic
This specific model is called the Geminoid DK, and it comes from the same studio that gave us the . The DK is the first Geminoid model that's based on a non-Japanese person (in this case, Associate Professor Henrik Scharfe of Denmark's Aalborg University) and also the first bearded model (if you consider a goatee a beard, which in my full-bearded opinion is debatable).
Like its Geminoid siblings, the DK is controlled remotely with a motion-capture system in which the Geminoid mimics the movements of the person being captured. Future uses are kind of secondary to the basic goal of making the most human-like robot possible, but it could be a step forward for human-robot interaction--paired with, say, , the Geminoid series could be used in some pretty interesting ways. That being said, here's a terrifying picture of the Geminoid's hair- and pupil-less visage.
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Video: Geminoid F Makes Her Theatrical Debut On The Japanese Stage
The humanoid robot's performance is not quite as effective as Sweden's operatic
But it’s not curtains for live acting just yet. Geminoid F wasn’t automated during the play, but rather manipulated by a human controller backstage. And she remained seated for the duration of the production, limiting her versatility on the stage. But she conversed and gestured with her human stage-mates, gesticulating and showing emotion – albeit a bit stiffly.
Her foil in the play (titled Sayonara), actress Bryerly Long, acknowledged that Geminoid F lacks a “human presence,” making her feel like the only person on the stage. Which makes sense, and could speak to just how effective the robot thespian was at tackling her role. After all, she was cast to play the role of an android.
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Togolese Student Builds Humanoid Robot From Old TV Parts
For now, the robot only walks in straight lines, but Todo is working on future versions that automatically greets people and naturally avoids objects in its path. More than simply showing off his own amazing ingenuity, Todo hopes his robot serves as an inspiration to other Africans to pursue science, math, and engineering.
But, once again, don't take my word for it! In the video below, check out Todo's robot in action, and hear in his own words the inspirational power of his little bot.
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