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Robots!

i4u writes "Sony introduces at the Robodex 2003 it's new version of the humanoid Robot SDR-4X. The Sony SDR-4X was introduced last year. The new version SDR-4X II has improved movement functions, safety functions and conversation capabilities. The new speech processor supports continuous speech recognition with about 20,000 words. The Sony SDR-4X II is about 580x190x270mm in size and weighs about 7kg. Sony Japanse Press-Release. See also the new robot Toshiba announced - the ApriAlpha."

11 of 199 comments (clear)

  1. Fluid motion by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

    How long before these robots are given fluid motion and balancing? I wouldn't so much care if the robot could walk if it could balance itself in a shifting environ.

    Seems much more humanly adaptable that way.

    1. Re:Fluid motion by JPM+NICK · · Score: 3, Interesting

      At MIT they are doing experiments with robots to mimic the movements of fish. Scientists studying and building fish robots would like to solve "Gray's paradox," named for James Gray, a British zoologist and specialist in animal locomotion, who theorized that fish are more efficient swimmers than they should be. The "Pike Project" http://web.mit.edu/towtank/www/pike/

  2. Asimo touring the us by gad_zuki! · · Score: 3, Informative

    On a related note, Honda's Asimo is touring the US. Asimo groupies you know who you are.

  3. 20k words by lingqi · · Score: 4, Interesting

    in Japanese, right? in which case (if we count kanji characters) is a LOT.

    btw japanese is a pain in the butt compared to english - I think if the robot really manages conversation in japanese, english is cake. Why I say that? most spoken japanese has no subject, object, and ususally can be interpreted in multiple ways based on context.

    lastly, notice all the humanoid robots go around with slightly bent knees. whassup with that? anybody know? I go around with a bent knee because I am bow-legged, but I hardly think the sony robot has that problem.

    --

    My life in the land of the rising sun.

  4. Old Glory Robot Insurance by brood · · Score: 4, Funny

    Don't forget to buy robot insurance! "To protect us from the metal ones".

  5. When I was kid... by heldlikesound · · Score: 3, Funny

    My ultimate dream toy was this big room that had a balcony, in the room would be a scaled down fort, jungle, river, etc... Then, we'd have these little guys that had guns and we could remote control them to fight and have wars and all kinds of cool stuff. Kind of like Rainbow Six, minus the computer part, and scaled down.

    Anyway, these new thing got my hopes up, until I realized that it doesn't even look like it can fire a gun.

    Why the hell would you make a robot that can't fire a gun?

    Let me take that one step further, if you are designing a robot, why the hell would you not just give it guns as hands. ::sigh::

    It better know karate.

    --


    Cloud City Digital: DVD Production at its cheapest/finest
  6. For the girlfriend by ahkbarr · · Score: 4, Funny

    The new speech processor supports continuous speech recognition with about 20,000 words.

    Yeah, I'll show it 20,000 continuous words... I usually fade away after around 17,835 continuous words or less. Say A-men, brothers!

    Seriously, it's a good listener. I think I'll get one for the girlfriend, and I can have a nice break.

    --
    Compared to war, all other forms of human endeavor shrink to insignificance. God, how I love it. - Gen. George Patton
  7. Anime culture... by Op911 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Interesting that from a nation that loves its giant battling robots (as seen in every other anime series from Japan) there is enough desire on the part of the manufacturers to create such robots in real life. And that there is enough demand there to make it worthwhile. They wouldn't be able to make these things if they couldn't sell them; You wouldn't be able to get the vast majority of North Americans to shell out a couple thousand on these things or an AIBO for instance. I'm a geek and I think these are cool but you won't catch me buying one until it's smart enough to get a job and make money to pay for itself. So why do the Japanese love these things so much? Any thoughts?

  8. Babebot by SnuSnu · · Score: 3, Funny

    Me so horny, me love you long time... Prease to insert credit card.

  9. Real World Robots by rpiquepa · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Sony is introducing a new robot, but this is only part of the story. Sony is betting its future on robots. Sony believes robotics will be bigger than the computer industry in 30 years. And there are many other robots coming, in hospitals, in New York steam pipes or on the battlefield. Look for example at Elvis, designed by Pyxis, which carries medications, or the future Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' Wakamaru, a home caretaker for the elderly. Check this column for more details or read this Newsweekarticle.

  10. Improved safety functions by glwtta · · Score: 3, Funny
    The new version SDR-4X II has improved [...] safety functions...

    What like:

    The SDR-4X II may not injure a human being, or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.

    The SDR-4X II must obey the orders given it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.

    The SDR-4X II must protect its own existence, except where such protection would conflict with the First or Second Law.

    Or do they mean no sharp edges for when kids try to lick it?
    --
    sic transit gloria mundi