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Researchers from the Intelligent Robotics Laboratory at Osaka University have teamed up with robot maker Kokoro Co., Ltd. to create a realistic-looking remote-control female android that mimics the facial expressions and speech of a human operator.
Modeled after a woman in her twenties, the android -- called Geminoid F (the "F" stands for female) -- has long black hair, soft silicone skin, and a set of lifelike teeth that allow her to produce a natural smile.
According to the developers, the robot's friendly and approachable appearance makes her suitable for receptionist work at sites such as museums. The researchers also plan to test her ability to put hospital patients at ease.
The research is being led by Osaka University professor Hiroshi Ishiguro, who is known for creating teleoperated robot twins such as the celebrated Geminoid HI-1, which was modeled after himself.
The new Geminoid F can produce facial expressions more naturally than its predecessors -- and it does so with a much more efficient design. While the previous Geminoid HI-1 model was equipped with 46 pneumatic actuators, the Geminoid F uses only 12.
In addition, the entire air servo control system is housed within the robot's body and is powered by a small external compressor that runs on standard household electricity.
Geminoid F and her human counterpart, wearing outfits by fashion designer Junko Koshino
The Geminoid F's easy-to-use teleoperation system, which was developed by ATR Intelligent Robotics and Communication Laboratories, consists of a smart camera that tracks the operator's facial movements. The corresponding data is relayed to the robot's control system, which coordinates the movement of the pneumatic actuators to reproduce the expressions on the android's face.
The efficient design makes the robot much cheaper to produce than previous models. Kokoro plans to begin selling copies of the Geminoid F next month for about 10 million yen ($110,000) each.
Realm
......It won't be long before we hear a news about a Japanese marrying this robot...
[]they've been marrying an anime character, a NDS game character, a fapping pillow, a sex doll, and who knows what they will marry next
kudzu
When that day comes, I'll be counting on the New York Times and CNN to bring me all the gory details.
[]Tornadoes28
Scary. They still have more work to do on the mouth area. But other than that it looks pretty real.
[]memyself
Yeah more work on the mouth area, they probably been doing that lol :p
[]william demers
I'd hit that.
[]Stefan Koch
If I know it right, Ishiguro has also created other robots. I think all Repliee variants were done by Ishiguro labs at Osaka University.
[]http://www.is.sys.es.osaka-u.ac.jp/development/0006/index.en.html
Anne
this is really cute...perhaps i could have one that looks exactly like me...that would really be a perfect boyfriend gift...hahaha
[]Gardog
Beware robot/human romantic relationships!
http://www.hulu.com/watch/4510/futurama-anti-robot-propaganda
[]Mia
That is heinously scary. It reminds me of the movie "The 6th day." Cept that this is a robot and those were clones.............still narly though. Hope they don't make clones..........
[]prb
I don't trust this toy at all. it can do to much.Next thing you know these same robots will have the few jobs left in America.
[]Dan
@prb
It's okay, we'll all have our own robot self to go out and work on our behalf. Then we can sit around, read the web, play frisbee and pop out to visit robot love parlours for recreational enjoyment. The world of the future.. it's awesome!
[]Zoose
It won't be long until Chobits become reality. lol
[]SG
The more advanced the future becomes for humans the more there is no future for humans
[]SG
The next self check out with a human face. The next war weapon. THE NEXT RULER OF THE WORLD..........................................................
[]Madison
Ok lyk all u desperate lonely ppl out there who says they wanna hit tht or can u have sex with it ur all sick damn ppl dnt b stupid it's a robot u cant fall n love wit a robot n 2nd u can't have kids with it either ur all sick n apparently dnt have a life
[]Omave
umadbro?
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