Tag: ‘Robot’

Pink Tentacle greatest hits – 2009

28 Dec 2009

As we bid farewell to 2009, it's a good time to look back at some of the most popular Pink Tentacle posts of the year. Here are the top ten, in case you missed them the first time around.

Animated stereoview of old Japan --

1. Animated stereoviews of old Japan: Meiji-period stereoview photographs by T. Enami, presented as animated GIFs to create the illusion of three dimensions.

* * * * *

Photo of Odaiba Gundam at night --

2. Nocturnal Gundam: A glimpse of the Odaiba Gundam after dark.

* * * * *

Kappa mummy --

3. Monster mummies of Japan: A look at some of the mummified monsters found at temples and shrines around Japan.

* * * * *

Pregnancy doll from Edo-period Japan --

4. Pregnant dolls from Edo-period Japan: 19th-century dolls designed to teach the anatomy of pregnancy.

* * * * *

Sculpture at World Sand Sculpture Festival, 2009 --

5. World Sand Sculpture Festival: Photos from the 2009 World Sand Sculpture Festival in Tottori, Japan.

* * * * *

Kuniyoshi tanuki print --

6. All-purpose tanuki testicles: Ukiyoe prints by Kuniyoshi depicting the remarkable versatility of oversized tanuki (raccoon dog) testicles.

* * * * *

Anatomy of Kuro-kamikiri --

7. Anatomy of Japanese folk monsters: Cutaway diagrams from Shigeru Mizuki's Yōkai Daizukai, an illustrated guide to yōkai anatomy.

* * * * *

Ultrasonic bath --

8. Ultrasonic bath: Video and photos of a futuristic human washing machine unveiled at the 1970 World Expo in Osaka.

* * * * *

La Machine in Yokohama --

9. Giant robot spider in Yokohama: Photos and video of the first La Machine sightings in Yokohama.

* * * * *

TOSY robot at iREX 2009 --

10. iREX 2009: Photos from the 2009 International Robot Exhibition held in Tokyo in November.

Have a Happy New Year! See you again in 2010.

Robovie-II helps with the grocery shopping

15 Dec 2009

A robot designed to help with the grocery shopping is being tested at a Kyoto-area supermarket.


+ Video

The robotic assistant -- an advanced version of the Robovie-II android developed by Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International (ATR) -- is the centerpiece of a networked system of robots, sensors and digital technology designed to make shopping more convenient and entertaining for the elderly. ATR is testing the experimental system at the Apita-Seikadai supermarket in Kyoto until March 2010.

To use the system, shoppers first create a shopping list at home using a special mobile device (they simply tell the robot's on-screen avatar what they want to buy before going to the supermarket). Later, when the customer arrives at the store, sensors automatically detect the mobile device. The user's data is wirelessly transmitted to a waiting robot, which greets the customer by name and says, "Let's start shopping."

In the video above, which shows part of a test conducted on December 10, the child-sized robot accompanies a 67-year-old woman while she shops for mandarin oranges and broccoli. In addition to carrying the woman's shopping basket, the robot reminds her to get the mandarin oranges, recommends the apples (which the robot says are delicious this season), reminds her to get the broccoli, and suggests including lettuce in her salad along with the broccoli. On several occasions, the robot remarks on how delicious the items look.

When asked her impression of the system after the demonstration, the woman said she felt almost as if she were shopping with her grandchild, and she said it was fun talking with the robot.

[Source: Robot Watch]

Robot doppelgangers for sale

14 Dec 2009

Department store operator Sogo & Seibu has announced plans to sell two humanoid robots custom-built to look like the people who purchase them.

Dr. Hiroshi Ishiguro with his robot double --
Roboticist Hiroshi Ishiguro already got his

The mechanical doppelgangers are available for a limited time as part of a special New Year's promotional sale at Sogo, Seibu, and Robinson’s department stores. They will be built by Japanese robotics firm Kokoro, which is perhaps best known for its line of Actroid receptionist humanoids.

In addition to providing the robot with the owner's face, body, hair, eyes and eyelashes, Kokoro will model the robot's facial expressions and upper body movements after the buyer. The robot's speech will be based on recordings of the owner's voice.

Orders will be accepted from January 1 to 3 at any of Japan's 28 Sogo, Seibu, or Robinson's department stores. Only two robot twins are available, but given the hefty price tag of 20.1 million yen ($223,000) each, the stores will likely be hard-pressed to find any takers. If more than two orders are received, the purchasers will be selected in a random drawing.

[Source: IT Media]

Video: Marine creature robots by kyg-lab

09 Dec 2009

Masamichi Hayashi, president of marine education establishment kyg-lab, has hand-crafted over 100 robotic marine creatures from recycled items such as plastic bottles, food containers, styrofoam, raincoats, and windshield wiper motors. A self-taught roboticist, Hayashi relies on his formal experience as a marine scientist to endow his machines with realistic movements, and he uses them in free shows to teach kids about the locomotion and behavior of sea creatures.

Here is a short video showing Hayashi's great white shark, manta ray, green turtle, hammerhead shark, Japanese giant salamander, porpoise, and killer whale.


+ Video

Hayashi's masterpiece is a 1.5 meter (5 ft) long coelacanth robot that weighs 48 kilograms (105 lbs) and cost 2 million yen ($22,000) to build. Here is some video of a diver giving it a snack.


+ Video

The coelacanth robot also makes a cameo in the next video, along with a tsuchinoko, a turtle, and a lake monster that carries a piece of waterborne trash to the curious onlookers on shore.


+ Video

[Link: kyg-lab]

Photos: International Robot Exhibition 2009

25 Nov 2009

Hundreds of robots have gathered at the International Robot Exhibition (IREX) now underway at Tokyo Big Sight. Here are a few photos from the event, which runs until November 28.

IREX 2009 --
[+]

IREX 2009 --
[+]

IREX 2009 --
[+]

Yaskawa Electric Corporation displayed a variety of Motoman industrial robots able to perform tasks ranging from menial factory work to synchronized swordplay.

* * * * *

IREX 2009 --
[+]

Taizo, a clown-like assistant trainer robot by General Robotix, encouraged passersby to do stretching exercises.

* * * * *

IREX 2009 --
[+]

Fuji Heavy Industries (Subaru) exhibited their AV-T3 autonomous cargo transport robot.

* * * * *

IREX 2009 --
[+]

Fuji Heavy Industries (Subaru) also showcased their autonomous floor cleaning robot (developed jointly with Sumitomo), which was recognized as Robot of the Year in 2006.

* * * * *

IREX 2009 --
[+]

Neko-Tencho, a cat robot developed by RT, danced with its naked skeleton.

* * * * *

IREX 2009 --
[+]

The Manoi PF01 and AT01 athlete humanoids relaxed on a table at the Kyosho booth.

* * * * *

IREX 2009 --
[+]

Figla exhibited an interactive robot (prototype) with remote camera.

* * * * *

IREX 2009 --
[+]

An Actroid was on hand at Kokoro's booth to demonstrate new camera-based face mimicking technology.

* * * * *

IREX 2009 --
[+]

TOPIO, a ping pong playing robot by TOSY (Vietnam), waited for a worthy opponent.

* * * * *

IREX 2009 --
[+]

The iRobi home robot by Yujin (Korea) can monitor the home, provide weather information and news, respond to voice commands, and entertain the kids with songs.

* * * * *

IREX 2009 --
[+]

NT Research (Korea) demonstrated their RAMeX humanoid with tele-operated arms and hands.

* * * * *

IREX 2009 --
[+]

An intelligent building guide robot with arms, speech capabilities, and face/voice recognition skills was on display at the "Premium Korea" booth.

* * * * *

IREX 2009 --
[+]

Alderbaran Robotics (France) exhibited Nao, a fully-programmable autonomous humanoid.

* * * * *

IREX 2009 --
[+]

NEC's display included the Papero-mini tele-collaboration robot, which lacks the AI brain of its big brother and functions as a home videoconferencing tool.

* * * * *

IREX 2009 --
[+]

Fujitsu's Enon robot received some minor adjustments at the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) booth.

* * * * *

IREX 2009 --
[+]

NEDO also exhibited a Muratec receptionist robot.

* * * * *

IREX 2009 --
[+]

A mini-humanoid blended into the crowd.

* * * * *

IREX 2009 --
[+]

CMC Technology Development Co., Ltd. exhibited Robockle, a collision avoidance robot loaded with an array of CMCTD's sensors.

* * * * *

IREX 2009 --
[+]

Kawada Industries demonstrated their NEXTAGE next-generation industrial robot.

* * * * *

IREX 2009 --
[+]

They also exhibited their HIRO humanoid upper body for R&D purposes.

* * * * *

IREX 2009 --
[+]

Saya, a receptionist robot, was on display at the Kobayashi Laboratory (University of Tokyo) booth.

Mechani-Kong and Dr. Who’s secret pyramid base

20 Nov 2009

In 1967, Shōnen Magazine published a set of illustrations detailing the secret weapons of Dr. Who, an evil scientist bent on capturing King Kong who regularly appeared in "The King Kong Show," a popular animated series on Japanese and US television at the time (not related to the British "Doctor Who").

Mechanikong of Dr. Who --
[View full image]

"Death Battle with Robot Kong," an illustration by Takashi Minamimura, features a cutaway diagram of Robot Kong, also known as "Mechani-Kong" in the US version of the cartoon and in the 1967 spin-off film "King Kong Escapes." Built to defeat King Kong, the 50-meter tall remote-control robot is powered by a 200,000-kilowatt nuclear reactor and can shoot laser beams from its eyes and poison gas from its nose.

Mechanikong of evil Dr. Who -- Mechanikong of evil Dr. Who --

The accompanying text describes Dr. Who's sinister plans to capture King Kong, place a mind-control helmet on his head, and use him to hijack ships and rob banks. He estimates King Kong can carry about 100 million yen in cash in his giant paws.

Secret pyramid base of evil Dr. Who --
[View full image]

Appearing in the same issue of Shōnen Magazine is a schematic illustration by Takayoshi Mizuki entitled "Secret Pyramid Base," which shows Dr. Who's secret base inside one of the Giza pyramids in Egypt.

Secret pyramid base of Dr. Who --

The pyramid is equipped with advanced military hardware, including 3D radar, jet launchers, recoilless guns, flamethrowers, rocket launchers, and military tanks that burrow underground. Dr. Who monitors all the action from a wall of TV screens in his room at the center of the pyramid. The base is powered by a nuclear reactor in the basement and surrounded by giant ant-lion sand traps.

Secret pyramid base of evil Dr. Who --

Situated nearby is a giant nuclear-powered Sphinx Tank. King Kong battles a variation of this weaponized Sphinx in an episode of "The King Kong Show." (Watch "The Jinx of the Sphinx.")

The diabolical Dr. Who and Mechani-Kong also appear in the 1967 film "King Kong Escapes," which was an adaptation of some of the cartoon episodes.

King Kong Escapes --

In the film, King Kong is captured and hypnotized by Dr. Who, but he eventually snaps out of it and escapes to Tokyo. Dr. Who sends Mechani-Kong after him, and the two end up in a battle to the death atop Tokyo Tower.


+ King Kong Escapes - US trailer

[Images via: 昭和の雑誌広告・懐かしモノ]

Video: Sick robot exhibits symptoms of H1N1

21 Oct 2009

A robotic patient on display at the Security & Safety Trade Expo (RISCON) in Tokyo exhibits symptoms of the H1N1 flu virus.


+ Video

According to this NTV news report, the life-sized humanoid robot was developed as a realistic training aid for medical workers. In addition to sporting a suit of human-like skin, the robot sweats, convulses, moans, cries tears, and exhibits symptoms not unlike a real human patient infected with the H1N1 virus. If the robot does not receive the proper treatment, the symptoms gradually worsen until it stops breathing.

Patient simulator with H1N1 symptoms --

The news report fails to mention who created the robot, but it looks like it might be a distant cousin of the emergency care simulator developed by IMI.

Saya does Takashimaya

19 Oct 2009

Saya robot receptionist at Takashimaya --
Humanoid robot Saya works reception at Takashimaya main entrance [+]

Saya, a female humanoid robot that can recognize and respond to human speech, spent the past several days working as a receptionist at the prestigious Takashimaya department store in Tokyo's Nihonbashi district.

Saya robot receptionist at Takashimaya --
Saya dressed in Takashimaya uniform [+]

Developed in 2004 by professor Hiroshi Kobayashi of the Tokyo University of Science, the speech-capable robot can provide about 700 programmed responses to questions and commands -- enough to direct customers to the appropriate floor, make small talk, and answer a few basic questions about herself and her background.

Saya robot receptionist at Takashimaya --
A customer asks Saya a question [+]

Pneumatic actuators in Saya's head allow her to move her neck, mouth and eyes while she speaks. She can produce facial expressions ranging from happiness and surprise to sadness and anger.

Saya robot receptionist at Takashimaya --
A peek behind the counter [+]

During her stint at Takashimaya from October 14 to 18, Saya dressed like her human co-workers in a Takashimaya receptionist uniform. She also wore makeup by RMK (view a close-up). Curious shoppers seemed amused by her presence, and many stopped at the reception counter to ask questions and chat.

Saya robot receptionist at Takashimaya --
A shopper tells Saya she is pretty [+]

Although she responded appropriately most of the time, the cyber-receptionist occasionally seemed to misunderstand what people said. For example, one person complimented Saya by saying, "You are pretty," but the robot flashed a look of disdain and responded with, "Are you crazy?"

Saya robot receptionist at Takashimaya --
"Are you crazy?" [+]

Saya grabbed headlines earlier this year when she took on a side job as a substitute teacher at a Tokyo elementary school.

Video: HRP-4C robot sings with Vocaloid voice

07 Oct 2009

Outfitted with Yamaha's Vocaloid singing voice synthesizer software, the HRP-4C female fashion model humanoid robot developed by AIST earlier this year has been entertaining CEATEC Japan visitors with renditions of popular songs.


+ Video

In this video, HRP-4C sings a rendition of Hitoto Yo's "Hanamizuki."

« Older
Newer »