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Humanoid Robot HR-2

Posted by timothy on from the bip-bip-bip-bork-bork-bip dept.

Denix writes "The HR-2 humanoid robot was constructed during a period of three months at Chalmers University in Sweden. It has 22 degrees of freedom which enables it to easily move around imitating human motions. The robot is also equipped with stereovision giving it possibilities to perform hand-eye coordination. For that task an artificial neural network is evolved. Furthermore, the artificial brain is capable of tracking faces as well as recognising them. The HR-2 is also able to speak. The website also contains a movie (35.5 MB) of the HR-2 in action."

21 of 239 comments (clear)

  1. Obligatory comment by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Can it run Linux?

  2. torrent test by Spy+Hunter · · Score: 5, Informative
    Here's a test of the new BitTorrent trackerless torrents, let's see how they hold up. You'll need the latest beta 4.1.3 from BitTorrent.com

    alternate link if the first doesn't work

    --
    main(c,r){for(r=32;r;) printf(++c>31?c=!r--,"\n":c<r?" ":~c&r?" `":" #");}
  3. Maybe so, but... by jpiggot · · Score: 3, Funny

    "It has 22 degrees of freedom" Yes, but if the Republican controlled Senate passes the legislation it wants, they'll be able to cut it down to just nine degrees of freedom. Take that, you godless humanoid robot !!"

    --
    StupidChildren...the reason jesus is crying
  4. Awesome! by MindNumbingOblivion · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Now I know where to go to get my armies of mechanical death.

    ::CACKLE CACKLE LIGHTNING CACKLE BRRZZT COUGH COUGH::

    In seriousness, is there a reason for trying to build a bipedal, humanoid, robot? I mean, this looks cool and all, but what are the advantages (or conversely, disadvantages) to such a design (IANSC [I Am Not Susan Calvin])?

    --
    #define CLUE 0
    1. Re:Awesome! by JanneM · · Score: 4, Insightful

      In seriousness, is there a reason for trying to build a bipedal, humanoid, robot? I mean, this looks cool and all, but what are the advantages (or conversely, disadvantages) to such a design (IANSC [I Am Not Susan Calvin])?

      We have buit our entire environment for bipedal movement. Just ask anybody with a walker or wheelchair just how inconvenient (and, without help, occasionally impossible) it is to get around when you're no longer bipedal.

      Also, the question of just how we manage to walk, run, climb and so on is interesting in itself. And there's no better way to test ideas than to try them out in reality.

      --
      Trust the Computer. The Computer is your friend.
    2. Re:Awesome! by JanneM · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Real progress will be made only after people stop trying to build a human from machine parts and focus more on usefull applications.

      Hard to build useful applications before you know how to make it walk safely, consistently and energy efficiently on at least a reasonable subset of human-constructed terrain types.

      I'm always astounded by all the backseat drivers of the world who always know so much better what people should do, without ever feeling the need to do it themselves. Since you want useful applications, go to it. Nothing is stopping you. If you're right that applications is the best focus, you'll undoubtedly eclipse these pitiful, wasteful efforts.

      --
      Trust the Computer. The Computer is your friend.
  5. When can we buy it? by j79 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Awww...the thing is so freakin' cute!

    Of course, if it was 6ft tall, I'd be saying something along the lines of, "I for one welcome our new robot overlords..."

  6. HR-2, I need you to tell me by AEton · · Score: 4, Funny

    What happened to HR-1?
    I'm sorry, my responses are limited. You must ask me the right questions. ...plot, "nice shoes", ...

    Is HR-1 standing right behind me with a sledgehammer, awaiting your orders to kill me?
    Ah. Now you are asking the right questions!

    --
    We recently had heard in the office over one of the Yellow Machine that's made by Anthology Solutions.
  7. Please Reply by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny
    Dear Sir,

    I read your article about a humanoid robot with interest. I am eagerly downloading your movie now.

    Please advise where I can purchase this excellent device. I am seeking a model which is at least 2.5 metres tall. If you have a submachine-gun attachment, that will be even better. Please send details of options and available colours.

  8. I dunno.. by badfrog · · Score: 5, Funny

    Doesn't look like it has the weight distribution to fetch me a beer.

    1. Re:I dunno.. by stoph+ct · · Score: 3, Funny

      It doesn't look like it could climb over a beer!

      I'll take the 30 meters tall version, ala Power Rangers.

  9. Forget the robot.... by d474 · · Score: 5, Informative

    I was more impressed with that hot European chick "playing" with the robot. He's all "show me your move", she moves the object up and down, and then little robot starts a movement closly resembleing masturbation. OMG LOL!!! It was even funnier because that girl is so cute....

    --
    Authority questions you. Return the favor.
  10. Humanoid vs task-specific robots by Arpie · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Sure, as a geek I love the idea of humanoid robots, but in practice how useful can they be?

    Aren't in most situations robots designed specifically for one task (or a small group of tasks) better?

    My Roomba robot vacuum broke a few weeks ago and it took 2-3 weeks to be replaced. If that same robot also washed my clothes, did my dishes and cooked my food, I'd have been in bad shape.

    [end serious post]

    [start joke]
    Come to think of it though, I'd definetly spend serious money on a robot that vacuums the floor, washes clothes, does the dishes and cooks... and does not demand attention, new clothes, a wedding... Heck, let's go make these humanoid robots already! And, of course, they'll need some specific, er... anatomic, parts and capabilites. And they absolutely must have an off and mute switches.

    --
    /* TAANSTAFL */
  11. Typical slashdotter! by piecewise · · Score: 5, Funny

    Geez. What ROBOT is cute?? What about the woman in the video! SHE'S cute! Get your act together.

    --
    The next comment I write will be ready soon, but subscribers can beat the rush and see it early!
  12. Looks a lot like the Kondo KHR-1 by thzinc · · Score: 5, Informative

    This looks a lot like the Kondo KHR-1 mentioned a while ago here, but a bit more advanced. Looks like some pretty nice enhancements, though, I do agree with a lot of other /.'ers in that I would like more information.

  13. Quantum Consciousness, Not Size, Counts by reporter · · Score: 3, Interesting
    The Swedes have done a terrific job. The next step is to construct microtubes that can use quantum states to "perform" consciousness. The Penrose-Hameroff Model explains how quantum states provide the basis of consciousness.

    If the Swedes can integrate the microtubes into the neural network controlling this robot, then the Swedes will achieve a sentient cybernetic device. Such an achievement would qualify for a Nobel Prize in physics.

    "Impressive. Most Impressive." utters a human-machine hybrid in Star War V.

    1. Re:Quantum Consciousness, Not Size, Counts by HuguesT · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Please note that the Penrose-Hameroff hypothesis is at this stage only an hypothesis, and it most certainly does not explain what consciousness is or how to reproduce it. In fact no one knows if the brain performs quantum computations of any kind, or if such computations are required for consciousness. Some AI luminaries think consciousness is in fact very simple, nothing more than memory.

      At this stage physicists are trying to build very simple quantum computers, which could be used for accelerating some very specific computations. Some other people have proven that even quantum computing would not be the panacea that many think it would be. For a start it doesn't give any new insight on how to perform specific calculations that would lead to consciousness. All computations possible on a QC would also be possible on a classical one, albeit usually much slower (but it wouldnt' matter that much, at least in theory).

      In other words the Penrose/Hameroff hypothesis doesn't really help in any significant way. It is just saying that the brain somehow performs some magic quantum thingy, and that thingy would somehow be the basis for consciousness. It doesn't say what this thingy is exactly, and most crucially doesn't say how to reproduce it in any way.

      the P/H hypothesis is basically just saying "we can't have true AI with the current batch of computers, something else is required", but doesn't say what.

      Needless to says this is not very helpful, and might be false entirely.

  14. This is a little more advanced by Sheetrock · · Score: 4, Interesting
    Than the one I saw at a Japanese facility, which had no adaptive neural network. However, it was capable of voice- and image-recognition, which helped it perform the following tasks:
    • Dispense coffee, refilling when empty
    • Pick up and deliver print job from the company printer
    • Write simple routines, such as C++ class templates, and fix broken HTML pages
    • Greet visitors and direct them to the appropriate department if expected
    • Allowed customers to choose from a number of top music artists, expelling a shrink-wrapped disc and playing the most popular song off the album as it danced around
    • Stack and unstack a series of boxes by color
    • Empty garbage, albeit into a pile that was then shovelled into a dumpster
    In a way, I think the 'intelligence' behind these robots is more than enough; now it's time to find practical uses for them.
    --

    Try not. Do or do not, there is no try.
    -- Dr. Spock, stardate 2822-3.




  15. Re:How nice of you.... by d2ksla · · Score: 3, Informative

    Actually, it'll be interesting to see how the server holds up. The Chalmers U. network (http://www.cdg.chalmers.se/Natverk/chalmers_bbng. gif) isn't too shabby with Gigabit Ethernet internally, and a 15 GBit/s Internet link (http://www.nordu.net/maps/map_nordunet.png).

    --

    Freevo - Linux Multimedia Jukebox
  16. mini Sarah Connor by DanThe1Man · · Score: 5, Funny

    All we need now is a mini-Sarah Connor to battle it.

  17. Re:She's cute by dow · · Score: 3, Funny

    No. She is. and Yes, to be a true /. person you should have made a poor pun about downloading her.