Prepare to be terminated: The Kibertron

Three plucky young nerds in Bulgaria have formed a company to build a fully functional android. A man-sized, fully-functional andriod, not some piddly little 3 foot high midget. Not only does the robot look Terminator-esque, but it's been designed to mimic the muscle system of a human (with bone-crushing strength, of course) and will be programmed with a semi-autonomous AI so that the android can learn new tasks, all of which is just a little too much like the Terminator for our comfort. Of course, this all looks and sounds really scary, but if a 1000 robot-obsessed Japanese scientists haven't been able to build any normal-looking androids this big that don't fall over and don't require a gigantic power backpack of batteries, it's tough to believe that three crafty Bulgarians will do it. So if they are successful, we'll get very, shall we say, nervous. And if they start working on a satellite network to control the androids, then we all go over there and level the factory before anything bad happens. Agreed?

[Via Near Near Future]

[LCQ @ Dec 19th 2005 2:41AM]

agreed.

[Spencer @ Dec 19th 2005 2:41AM]

I for one with welcome our new overlords.

[Spencer @ Dec 19th 2005 2:41AM]

I for one will welcome our new overlords

[TonyP @ Dec 19th 2005 2:41AM]

It does sound scary and yet we can't stop progress. But just in case, we can all blow them all to bits. I think a self destruct (implode) button will be a must for these bots.

[EdZ @ Dec 19th 2005 2:41AM]

Given the current balancing ability of these robots, all we need to defend ourselves with is a stout pole and a good heave.

[aeo @ Dec 19th 2005 2:41AM]

I have a problem with this new "project". Firstly, the pictures never show the skeleton with a human. This leads me to believe that the pictures are just CAD renderings. Secondly, even if they build (have built?) this, the hurdle they're left to face is the AI. They admit to this themselves. The AI isn't coded as far as I could tell. They just admit that it's really important to the completion of the android. Hmmm... I guess a positronic brain would let us build our own Commander Data if only Dr. Noonien Soong would hurry up and invent it.

In short, they've designed a car without an engine in hopes that they or someone else invent an engine soon. I'm calling BS on this one... for now.

[Snyke @ Dec 19th 2005 2:41AM]

In the beginning there was the animal, then they evolved to become man. Now man evolves into machine, creating his own doom :)

These _are_ renders... nothing concrete yet as much as I see...

[Shed @ Dec 19th 2005 2:41AM]

All talk, no content :-(

It may look good and sound amazing but after a read through of their web site there is nothing there except for loads of 3D renders and time spent dreaming.
They *have* generated a lot of interest over several years but the more you read, the more it sounds like smoke and mirrors.

Going through their "portfolio", the only real things seem to be: they've repaired an industrial robot arm, they build/service computers and they may have done some RF stuff. Whoop-de-do :-/
The history is quite enlightening and funny though :^)

[Michael Jett @ Dec 19th 2005 2:41AM]

Is anyone else becoming scared of robots? I mean come on ... they are getting more and more advanced every day ... not long untill we have a Terminator robot or Hal .... it's time to be scared ... very scared .... thank god the assault wepons ban was lifted ... now we can all go get AK-47s to protect our selves from the robot invasion .....

[Ratteler @ Dec 19th 2005 2:41AM]

I'll need 50 Million ASAP. I'm taking over the United States.

Mwhahahahah!!!

[Mata Ko @ Dec 19th 2005 2:41AM]

Actually - their 3D models are _stolen_.
Don't keep the URL any more, but it was from some designer - fan of Terminator.

[Tsaukpaetra @ Dec 19th 2005 2:41AM]

Fake?!?!?!?
Hmmm, maybe Hoax isn't the word....