Emiew "wheels out" fast-moving robot

Oh, happy day, when yet another incorrigably humanoid robot rolls right out of Japan and into our newswire — and this one's apparently moving rather quickly. Hitachi's new Emiew robot sports wheels instead of feet, in order to have the ability to approach the speed of a human. Emiew, standing for "excellent mobility and interactive existence as workmate," can roll along at speeds of up to 3.7 mph and has a vocabulary of about 100 words. The Japanese company has built two versions of the Emiew for the Japan World Expo (where all manner of crazy humanoid robots will be walkin' the walk), Pal and Chum — it just doesn't get any more friendly than that, now does it?

[Dennis @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

I am thinking... the Jetsons.

[iceberg @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Finally - a robot who looks like Rosie!

[Permanent4 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

CAPTION CONTEST!

"Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss..."

[Dennis @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Caption
"Gimme five, homeboy..!"

[strider_mt2k @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Meet Uniblab.

Pick a card, any card...

[Dennis @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

"What's the secret handshake?"

[Chris @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Yet another company using Segway's "dynamic stabilization" technology for a good use. Pretty cool--I wonder when they'll be able to get these machines to go running speed like an actual Segway (12.5mph)?

[Marcio @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

yup, another bot.... As freaky as they get.... yikes.

[Rich @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

"Pal" and "Chum" are both brands of dog food in the UK. Let's hope there's no British dogs at the Japan World Expo in case they get the wrong idea...

[E.A.C. @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

E.M.I.E.W. looks more like R2-D2.

I suggest of evolving E.M.I.E.W. into more R2-D2-ish, whose tasks are repairing stuff, data storage, cracking programs and computer networks, mobile computer server, image projector, and so on.



For something like a Protocol droid that interact with humans, I don't think the current version of E.M.I.E.W. is up to the task.



As for E.M.I.E.W. being like Rosie.

Well... Does it act and talk like a black skinned house maid?