Saya-sensei: Synthetic substitute teacher

08 May 2009

Saya humanoid robot teacher --

Upon returning to class after the Golden Week holidays, students at a Tokyo elementary school were delighted to find their teacher had been replaced by a robot. The talking humanoid, named "Saya," was originally developed as a receptionist robot in 2004 by professor Hiroshi Kobayashi of the Tokyo University of Science, but has recently begun taking on work as a substitute teacher.

Saya humanoid robot teacher --
Amused students poke Saya's soft face

The robot, which can speak multiple languages, uses facial expressions to facilitate communication. With an array of motors in her head that stretch the soft synthetic skin into various positions, Saya can display emotions ranging from happiness and surprise to sadness and anger.

However, Saya needs to work on improving her classroom management skills. At present, she can't do much more than call out names and shout orders like "Be quiet." But that does not make her any less popular with the kids.

Saya humanoid robot teacher --

"Robots that look human tend to be a big hit with young children and the elderly," Kobayashi recently told the Associated Press. "Children even start crying when they are scolded."

[Source: Sankei]

Fukitorimushi: Autonomous floor-wiping robot

07 May 2009

Fukitorimushi --

Move over, Roomba. Make way for Fukitorimushi, an autonomous floor-cleaning robot that crawls like an inchworm and uses a super-absorbent nanofiber cloth to wipe up microscopic dust and residue that ordinary vacuums leave behind. Unveiled at the recent Tokyo Fiber Senseware exposition in Milan, Fukitorimushi (lit. "wipe-up bug") is designed by Panasonic and incorporates nanofiber technology developed by textile maker Teijin, Ltd.

The robot cleans by simply dragging its nanocloth belly across the floor as it slowly crawls around in search of dirt. (Watch the video.)

Fukitorimushi, which moves around by flexing and stretching its body like an inchworm, uses "feelers" of blue-white light to search for floor grime. When it finds a dirty spot, the robot emits a red light and devotes extra effort to cleaning that area. After it has finished cleaning, the machine returns to its charging station to replenish its battery.

Fukitorimushi's body is covered in Teijin's Nanofront cloth, which is made of polyester filament fibers measuring 700 nanometers in diameter (about 7,500 times thinner than the average human hair). The nanofibers significantly increase the fabric's surface area and porosity, giving it superior wiping characteristics and the ability to absorb oil and ultra-fine dust particles less than one micron in diameter. The large surface contact area also increases the fabric's friction with the floor and makes it resistant to sliding. The robot relies on this increased friction to push itself forward while wiping the floor.

Fukitorimushi --

According to its creators, Fukitorimushi is also designed to engage the emotions and foster a closer relationship between humans and machines. The way the machine creeps across the floor may seem a little strange at first, but the designers say people tend to grow fond of the robotic creature after watching it for a while. In addition, the owner must periodically replace Fukitorimushi's nanocloth cover with a clean one. The designers suggest this task of looking after the Fukitorimushi may encourage a pet-like affection for the machine.

[Link: Tokyo Fiber '09 Senseware Guide (PDF)]

Stylish surgical masks by Yoriko Yoshida

30 Apr 2009

Illustrator Yoriko Yoshida has dreamed up dozens of colorful face mask designs that are sure to keep you looking cool and feeling safe as fears of swine flu spread across the globe.

Surgical mask design by Yoriko Yoshida --
The mask of Octopus beard

Surgical mask design by Yoriko Yoshida --
The mask of Rising sun

Surgical mask design by Yoriko Yoshida --
The mask of Skull

Surgical mask design by Yoriko Yoshida --
The mask of Wild boar

Surgical mask design by Yoriko Yoshida --
The mask of Mt. FUJI

Surgical mask design by Yoriko Yoshida --
The mask of Beauty

[Link: Yoriko Yoshida's surgical masks]

Photos: World Sand Sculpture Festival 2009

23 Apr 2009

World Sand Sculpture Festival 2009, Japan --

"Fairy tales and legends" is the theme of this year's World Sand Sculpture Festival now underway at the Tottori Sand Dunes in Tottori prefecture. On display (until May 31) are 19 massive works crafted by world-class sculptors from ten nations. The artists used around 2,700 tons of sand and took about two weeks to complete their works. Can you identify the fairy tales and legends depicted in these sand sculptures?

World Sand Sculpture Festival 2009, Japan --
The Netherlands (front) [via]

World Sand Sculpture Festival 2009, Japan --
The Netherlands (rear) [via]

World Sand Sculpture Festival 2009, Japan --
Germany [via]

World Sand Sculpture Festival 2009, Japan --
India (front) [via]

World Sand Sculpture Festival 2009, Japan --
India (rear) [via]

World Sand Sculpture Festival 2009, Japan --
Spain [via]

World Sand Sculpture Festival 2009, Japan --
USA (front) [via]

World Sand Sculpture Festival 2009, Japan --
USA (rear) [via]

World Sand Sculpture Festival 2009, Japan --
Czech Republic [via]

World Sand Sculpture Festival 2009, Japan --
Russia (front) [via]

World Sand Sculpture Festival 2009, Japan --
Russia (rear) [via]

World Sand Sculpture Festival 2009, Japan --
Australia (front) [via]

World Sand Sculpture Festival 2009, Japan --
Australia (rear) [via]

World Sand Sculpture Festival 2009, Japan --
Canada [via]

World Sand Sculpture Festival 2009, Japan --
China [via]

World Sand Sculpture Festival 2009, Japan --
Unknown [via]

Robo-Shuchishin: New idol-pop trio

23 Apr 2009

A pair of Robonova-1 kit robots teamed up with "Chi" (Naoki Nokubo) of the defunct pop-idol trio Shuchishin for a special performance on Fuji TV's "The Best House 1-2-3" variety show last night. (Watch it.)

The new trio -- named "Robo-Shuchishin" -- performed "Shuchishin," the original group's self-titled hit single. Although the robot replacements sang off-key and sounded rather robotic, one of the little guys pulled off a surprise by taking its pre-show "break a leg" instructions literally (skip 1:20 into the video).

Mr. Ando of the Woods

22 Apr 2009

An English-subtitled version of Takashi Taniguchi's delightfully absurd "Mr. Ando of the Woods" has made its way online.


+ Video

- Also by Taniguchi: Salaryman Man

Fish market alien sighting

22 Apr 2009

Seafood shoppers may on rare occasions encounter the preserved bodies of aliens -- or even Jenny Haniver specimens -- at fish markets in Japan.

Jenny Haniver at Japanese seafood market --

These two darlings were photographed at a shop on Oharai-machi Street near the entrance to Ise Shrine in Mie prefecture.

[Photo: ~MVI~]

Tokyo stereographic projections

21 Apr 2009

Photographer heiwa4126's "Stereographics" photoset on Flickr is an eye-bending collection of "little planet" panoramas and ultra-wide fisheye images shot mostly in Tokyo.

Ultra-wide fisheye image of Tokyo station --
Tokyo Station [heiwa4126]

Wee planet stereographic projection of Tokyo --
Ueno Station [heiwa4126]

Microplanet stereographic projection of Tokyo --
Shin-Arakawa Bridge [heiwa4126]

Little planet stereographic projection of Tokyo --
Higashi-Ayase Park [heiwa4126]

Mini-planet stereographic projection of Tokyo --
Shibaura [heiwa4126]

Panoramic stereographic projection of Tokyo --
Adachi Ward [heiwa4126]

Stereographic panorama of Tokyo --
Katsushika Ward [heiwa4126]

Stereographically projected panorama of Tokyo --
Ueno Station [heiwa4126]

3D panorama of Tokyo --
Tokyo Dome City [heiwa4126]

Spherical panorama of Tokyo --
Shiodome Sio-site [heiwa4126]

Check heiwa4126's photoset for over 150 more high-resolution stereographic projections, and see gadl's "Wee Planet" set for background information and instructions on how to make your own.

Giant robot spider in Yokohama (pics/ video)

19 Apr 2009

La Princesse mechanized spider in Yokohama --
[+]

A pair of giant robotic spiders designed and built by French performance art group La Machine have come to Yokohama to take part in the upcoming Expo Y150, a 5-month festival commemorating the 150th anniversary of the opening of the city's port.

La Princesse giant spider robot in Yokohama --
[+]

Although the Expo Y150 festivities are not scheduled to officially begin until the end of April, the enormous steampunk spiders could be seen prowling the Yokohama waterfront this weekend.

Here is some superb video of the spectacle on Friday (April 17) night, when one of the 12-meter (40-ft) tall, 37-ton mechanical spiders was observed in the red brick warehouse area of Yokohama -- far from its natural habitat of Nantes, France.


+ Video

On Saturday (April 18) evening, one of the mechanical spiders performed a water dance at Shinko Pier while the other looked on from its perch atop a nearby shipping container. For the performance, the spider moved its mechanical legs and shot steam and water and from its mouth and rear end, while suspended over the water from a large crane. Water cannons, fog machines, lights and live atmospheric music added to the drama.

La Machine's mechanical spider in Yokohama --
[+]

On Sunday (April 19), both spiders were scheduled to depart Shinko Pier, take a stroll up Nihon-Odori street, and head back to the red brick warehouse area.

La Machine's giant arachnid robot in Yokohama --
[+]

La Machine's giant spiders will be on public display at Expo Y150 from April 28 to September 27.