Actroid

China Product


Technology

Internal sensors allow Actroid models to react with a natural appearance by way of air actuators placed at many points of articulation in the upper body. Early models had 42 points of articulation, later models have 47. So far, movement in the lower body is limited. The operation of the robot's sensory system in tandem with its air powered movements make it quick enough to react to or fend off intrusive motions, such as a slap or a poke. Artificial intelligence possessed by the android gives it the ability to react differently to more gentle kinds of touch, such as a pat on the arm.

The Actroid can also imitate human-like behavior with slight shifts in position, head and eye movements and the appearance of breathing in its chest. Additionally, the robot can be "taught" to imitate human movements by facing a person who is wearing reflective dots at key points on their body. By tracking the dots with its visual system and computing limb and joint movements to match what it sees, this motion can then be "learned" by the robot and repeated. butterfly wind chime

The skin is composed of silicone and appears highly realistic. The compressed air that powers the robot's servo motors, and most of the computer hardware that operates the A.I., are external to the unit. This is a contributing factor to the robot's lack of locomotion capabilities. When displayed, the Actroid has always been either seated or standing with firm support from behind. stained glass wind chimes

The interactive Actroids can also communicate on a rudimentary level with humans by speaking. Microphones within those Actroids record the speech of a human, and this sound is then filtered to remove background noise - including the sounds of the robot's own operation. Speech recognition software is then used to convert the audio stream into words and sentences, which can then be processed by the Actroid's A.I. A verbal response is then given through speakers external to the unit. indoor wind chimes

Further interactivity is achieved through non-verbal methods. When addressed, the interactive Actroids use a combination of "floor sensors and omnidirectional vision sensors" in order to maintain eye contact with the speaker. In addition, the robots can respond in limited ways to body language and tone of voice by changing their own facial expressions, stance and vocal inflection.

Models

The original Repliee Q1 had a "sister" model, Repliee R1, which is modeled after a 5-year-old Japanese girl.

More advanced models were present at Expo 2005 in Aichi to help direct people to specific locations and events. Four unique visages were given to these robots. The ReplieeQ1-expo was modeled after a presenter for NHK news. To make the face of the Repliee Q2 model, the faces of several young Japanese women were scanned and the images combined into an average composite face.

The newer model Actroid-DER2 made a recent tour of U.S. cities. At NextFest 2006, the robot spoke English and was displayed in a standing position and dressed in a black vinyl bodysuit. A different Actroid-DER2 was also shown in Japan around the same time. This new robot has more realistic features and movements than its predecessor.

In July 2006, another appearance was given to the robot. This model was built to look like its male co-creator, roboticist Hiroshi Ishiguro, and named Geminoid HI-1. Controlled by a motion-capture interface, Geminoid HI-1 can imitate Ishiguro's body and facial movements, and it can reproduce his voice in sync with his motion and posture. Ishiguro hopes to develop the robot's human-like presence to such a degree that he could use it to teach classes remotely, lecturing from home while the Geminoid interacts with his classes at Osaka University.

Actroid timeline

Date

Development

2003 November

Actroid is unveiled at the International Robot Exhibition.

2004 January

Model "Actroid ReplieeQ1" developed at Osaka University.

2004 December

"Actroid ReplieeQ1-expo" developed for Expo 2005 in Aichi.

2005 March

"Actroid-expo" models shown at the 2005 Expo; three at help booths, another on stage as an emcee. (Image:)

2005 June

"Actroid-DER" (Dramatic Entertainment Robot) rental-only model introduced.

2005 July

Ishiguro research team develops the "Actroid ReplieeQ2" at Osaka University.

2006 July

Geminoid HI-1 produced in the image of Hiroshi Ishiguro.

2006 October

"Actroid-DER2" units available.

2008 October

Release of the "Actroid-DER3" units.

Spring 2010

Actroid will enter the market, being sold for $20,000 at select stores in Japan.

See also

Robotics portal

Android

Gynoid

ASIMO

EveR-1

Hubo

Humanoid robot

RealDoll

TOPIO

Uncanny valley

Virtual Woman

References

MacDorman, Karl F.; Ishiguro, Hiroshi (2006). "The uncanny advantage of using androids in social and cognitive science research" (pdf). Interaction Studies 7 (3): 297337. ISSN 15720373. http://www.macdorman.com/kfm/writings/pubs/MacDorman2006AndroidScience.pdf. Retrieved 2008-05-25. 

Jacquemin, Christophe (2005-08-22). "'Repliee', ou l'inexorable marche vers le robot androde?" (in French). Le Monde. http://automatesintelligent.blog.lemonde.fr/automatesintelligent/2005/08/repliee_ou_line.html#repliee5. Retrieved 2008-05-25.  (Google translation)

Christensen, Bill (2005-06-28). "New robot looks strikingly human". LiveScience. http://www.livescience.com/technology/050628_real_robot.html. Retrieved 2008-05-25. 

Whitehouse, David (2005-07-12). "Japanese develop 'female' android". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4714135.stm. Retrieved 2008-05-25. 

Schaub, Ben (2006-10-12). "Meet my android twin". New Scientist. http://www.newscientisttech.com/channel/tech/mg19225731.200-meet-my-android-twin.html. Retrieved 2008-05-25. 

Hornyak, Tim (2006-07-20). "Meet the remote-control self". Wired. http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2006/07/71426. Retrieved 2008-05-25. 

External links

Android Science (video), Discovery Channel, 24 March 2005[dead link]

Kokoro Company's Actroid website in English (contains "engrish", can be difficult to understand for English speaking persons)

The Actroid at NextFest 2006 at YouTube

A report with video from the Ishiguro Robot Lab (from www.simonlaub.dk)

Robot Watch article on new Actroid-DER2 (In Japanese with pictures and video clips)

National Geographic news article

Categories: Humanoid robotsHidden categories: All articles with dead external links | Articles with dead external links from April 2009