A little Android named Roboy serves as a development platform for humanoid robot and may be used by anyone.
Also in science it needs good stories, “says Rolf Pfeifer, director of the Zurich AI Lab. And Roboy, youngest member of the extended family of humanoid robots, certainly tells a. For example, Zurich, March 2013,” Robots on Tour. “Long queues front of the entrance, about two hours of waiting time, and inside a large crowd. researchers from around the world will present their projects to the public. There are robot-celebrities like the professor clone “Geminoid” from Japan to admire the its developer Hiroshi Ishiguro as one egg is like another. Or “Cornell Ranger” from the U.S., a stiff-legged long-distance runner who runs nonstop over 60 kilometers.
But the clear favorite of the masses is a little guy with big eyes, a round . forehead and an oversized head so far he can not see much more than friendly, perform a few awkward movements and a few words of English, but the cute guy comes on. child to be photographed with him, Mature touch curious its strange for a robot lanky . limbs feel: The current than a month old Roboy is not a robot like many others, and in fact he was also primarily built to a very different purpose than most of his fellows: not to serve the people but to the people -. or rather whose intelligence -. better understand
His birthplace, the Zurich AI Lab (Artificial Intelligence Laboratory) of the University has been one of its foundation 25 years ago to the pulse in the field of humanoid robotics The. . investigate Swiss researchers how the body affects the mind “intelligence takes place not only in the head but distributed throughout the organism,” says Rolf Pfeifer, head of the AI Lab He calls it Embodiment. intelligence created his theory only from the interplay of brain, body and environment. Whoever takes about a water-filled glass in hand, alone on the sensation of what it feels like glass, and how hard it is, the next glass to predict how he must keep it.
For the robot builders findings from biomechanics and materials science are as important as from neuroscience research or developmental psychology. Whistler team is therefore composed amazing interdisciplinary. “When a team member when applying admits it was of robotics no idea – all the better. “finds Piper” understanding through reverse engineering “is the motto One important aspect is the equipment of the robot members with sensors that report back continuously, which at.” doing periphery “This feedback -. example water glass – creates only the opportunity to feel the consequences of an action that extent it is essential for any learning process
The development of robots so as basic research in terms of human intelligence -.. for this purpose should be created also Roboy The impetus afforded. last March upcoming 25th anniversary of the AI Lab. middle of last year, the team decided to mark the occasion for the first time an international showcase of robotics to the public hold to the “Robots on Tour.” For the stage, the AI Lab of course needed a . their own, befitting the main character, how much time remained nine months of this opportunity had to be taken:? The AI Lab was pregnant
My goal was to researchers quickly clear. they wanted to investigate how a robot would behave whose limbs were driven by tensile tendons instead of motors preliminary studies had shown that with this biology abgeschauten concept much smoother movements are possible Such engineered machine man could possibly overcome one of the robots curses:… stiffness of the movements Approximately 50 engines would have to install researchers in the torso and limbs of the robot, each independently controlled and connected by artificial tendons with plastic skeleton they had nine months to incorporate their knowledge into a complete humanoid robot to realize, however, lacked one detail:.. the money.
The researchers knew that they had no usual research funding would be able to apply for such short notice. So they reasoned, how the public would be to win the project. Roboys sweet appearance was deliberately chosen because it is collecting money makes via crowdfunding easier. Whoever followed the first public call for donations over the Internet, received as an engraving on the robot or a meal with the androids and laboratory manager piper. The design of the robot had to be appealing and stand out not only through technological innovation. A Facebook Page has been set up, working with the media promoted it works:.. During the official presentation at the “Robots on Tour”, the researchers have already two-thirds of the targeted half a million francs together Researchers continue to collect
But as of now. laughs and cries, the nine-month child on the performance show and thrilled his audience. Due to a projector in the back of the head can be very different facial expressions projected on the plastic front of the head. Later once to even be able to live with people of a sophisticated discussion of the nice humanoids. moment it is there but not even on the level of a toddler.
The robot researchers Rüdiger Dillmann from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology also looks a long way from guys like Roboy to really interacting humanoids. “the machines lack the understanding of how a person works. Only when they receive this, they will implement a prompt like, give me a ‘useful. “Besides the attractive exterior of human liberty indeed,” relaxing on the machine reach out “what could be the first contact of benefits. Yet mountains, the concept the risk, such as in the care that people felt treated like a child and possibly helpless would then behave as if they are.
But Piper’s vision is anyway not a humanoid robot that simulates an entire people, ., but only some of its components A fragmentary perfected each on the appropriate purpose toward intelligence would totally rich he would be initially very practical successes -.., he is not just intelligence researchers, but also engineer first companies interested in according to him already for individual . components Roboys as the existing motor and tendon muscle elements When it comes to Whistler, they can easily access. All design data would be made public to the smallest technical detail, so that in principle anyone can recreate the robot – about a 3D printer Roboy works true to the open source principle and should, when it comes to his “father” will be looted.
his first major appearance but had Roboy undoubtedly as the sweet machine man, to which he was formed for the purpose of Crowdfunding : During the anniversary presentation he was twice on the show stage to take part in a play, even if his lines of dialogue for the occasion even came off the assembly line, Roboy made the confusion skillfully with, just as he knew, to which question it was about.: How are human like robots and robot-like people? <- AUTHOR MARKER DATA BEGIN -> ( Roland Fischer ) / <- RSPEAK_STOP -> (bsc)
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This text is the magazine issue 05/2013 taken from Technology Review The book can, just like the current edition, is online here
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