M3-Noby and M3-Kindy Bring Child Robots to a Whole New Level [Video]
While grown up robots that teach a language may be practical and awesome, it's when you start dealing with little baby robots, or even small children robots, that things get sketchy. Especially if you start making them look, and act, like real children. But, it's all part of the process of learning, so we'll just have to grin and bear it. Robots are awesome, but we've got to draw the line here. Japan's M3-Noby and M3-Kindy are here, so cover your (real) children's eyes.
The JST Erato Asada Project in Osaka are the minds behind these two little robots, and they were both created to help scientists explore human cognitive development processes in children and infants. This is done by human-robot interaction, including communication. The first, the baby of the bunch, is Noby, is the infant-like robot. He weighs 7.9kg and stands 71cm tall. Features wise, he's got 600 touch sensors throughout the body, along with two microphones and two cameras.
Kindy, on the other hand, is supposed to look like a 5-year old child. He weighs 27kg, and he's got 109 touch sensors placed around his frame. He's got 42 joints, one camera in each eye, and two microphones (one in each ear). We understand that the concept is sound, and this is probably a great way to figure out just whatever it is they are trying to figure out, but honestly . . . Do they have to be so creepy? Video below.
[via CrunchGear]