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New HRP-4 Humanoid Robots From Japan To Go On Sale

Posted by Soulskill on from the do-they-come-with-evil-brothers dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Kawada Industries and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology have unveiled their new humanoid robot, HRP-4. The new humanoid stands 151cm tall and is much thinner than its predecessors. For Japan, HRP-4 is another step forward in creating useful mechanical workers to deal with a forthcoming shortage in the labor force and care for an aging population. HRP-4's creators expect to start selling the robot to universities and other research institutions as early as January 2011 for a price tag of $300,000, which is not that bad for a humanoid." The HRP-4s are a whole $100,000 cheaper than Willow Garage's PR2 (non-humanoid) robots, which became available earlier this month. The difference really adds up when building your robot army. Ron Moore could not be reached for comment.

9 of 157 comments (clear)

  1. Have they fixed the medicine problem? by spun · · Score: 2, Funny

    If these robots are going to be caring for old people, what will prevent them from stealing old people's medicine?

    --
    - None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton
  2. Re:Cue the sleazy wah wah guitar by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    HRP-4. Hmm... HeRPes-simplex4? Scary. Don't think you can practice safe sex with this robot.

  3. Re:Should of been built like the Terminator by Locke2005 · · Score: 4, Funny

    It's programmed to detect people trying to upset it's balance, and then kick them in the balls. Hard. Sure, it falls over, but you'll never try that shit again, I guarantee ya!

    --
    I've abandoned my search for truth; now I'm just looking for some useful delusions.
  4. Re:Should of been built like the Terminator by Spatial · · Score: 2, Funny

    Will you be able to compensate? You just knocked over 300,000 dollars of hardware.

  5. Re:Humanoid Robots are great and all by Locke2005 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Sadly, Davros's invasion force was stymied when it came across the first set of stairs, and failed miserably. Meanwhile, my invasion force using the HRP-4 went on to become a huge hit on Broadway!

    --
    I've abandoned my search for truth; now I'm just looking for some useful delusions.
  6. Re:Not sure... by mcgrew · · Score: 2, Funny

    Yeah, but those "real dolls" would be a lot more fun if they'd actually move like a real woman. Plus, they won't clean the house or do the laundry. Women are good for a lot more than sex, you know.

    I doubt cuddling with a "real doll" while watching a non-pornographic movie would be very fun. And if all you want is sex, crack whores are better than any sex toys.

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    Free Martian Whores!
  7. I don't always HRP-4.... by Mayhem178 · · Score: 2, Funny

    but when I do, I DRP-4.

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    "You will pay for your lack of vision..." - Emperor Palpatine to Ray Charles

  8. Thou Misseth Ye Olde Pointe By Ye Longe Fur. by fyngyrz · · Score: 2, Funny

    On the whole, I think I'd rather hire an au pair girl.

    If the Robot does the dishes and the floors and etc., then neither you nor your lady have to do it, and thusly, get to spend more time exploring the various corners of your sexual identities.

    This does, of course, require a ladyfriend, and this is, of course, slashdot, so perhaps I'm being overly optimistic.

    --
    I've fallen off your lawn, and I can't get up.
  9. Re:Robot soldiers are a BAD idea by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    So, you prefer to reduce that percentage by diluting the civilian deaths with additional soldier deaths? o.0