TakaraTomy's Micromachine to terrorize creepy anime dolls

Now this is what we've been waiting for ever since Takara and TOMY joined forces; a robot! Temporarily dubbed Micromachine, this 5.9-inch tall, 0.66-pound programmable robot is a prototype of the mass produced bipedal 'bot due for release in March 2007. For less than ¥40,000 (about $349) you'll get a fully tricked-out model with Bluetooth and camera modules. Details are sketchy at this point and anything could happen between now and product launch anyway. And since this is Tomy and Takara, we mean anything.

[Dario @ Jul 5th 2006 9:13AM]

whats so good about house hold robots anyway!?

[AUA @ Jul 5th 2006 9:36AM]

Now, if they could simply redesign the robot to fit within that doll, the joints would be covered by the kimono and you would have something much cooler and organic looking than an Aibo or Robosapien.

[Gihan @ Jul 5th 2006 9:46AM]

Takara making a robot for 349$...and it doesn't transform into anything?????

[zoara @ Jul 5th 2006 9:48AM]

AUA, if they did that they'd topple into Uncanny Valley.

That doll is creepy enough already; if it were to move by itself I certainly wouldn't be welcoming our new kimono-dressed overlords, I'd be running away in fear. Look at the eyes, man, the eyes!

-shudder-

[Brian @ Jul 5th 2006 10:16AM]

If you want to see something really creepy? Check this out:

http://ohzlab.kaist.ac.kr/index.php

They've basically taken their HUBO robot and put Albert Einstein's head on it!

[AUA @ Jul 5th 2006 10:16AM]

I thought of the uncanny valley while I was writing the comment and looking at that picture. I think in instances like this, it would be a bit of an overstated concern. Even if it is uncannily realistic, I think people just aren't going to fear a 6" tall robotic, plastic humanoid.

[Jeremy @ Jul 5th 2006 11:03AM]

AUA, clearly you have forgotten the horrors visited upon the world via the "Child's Play" movie series. Granted Chucky was not a robot, but he was indeed a small plastic humanoid with a taste for murder. Additionally, what about the "Puppet Master" series?

I have been preparing for the coming of the one foot tall menaces AND for the robotic revolt for some time - I shall take this news and check against my defenses.

Oh, did I mention I am also planning for the undead apocalypse? I would suggest you do the same.

[Grimbus @ Jul 5th 2006 11:13AM]

Quoting the translated site:

"it is possible also the [te] to become independent, to attach the pause"

"To become independent"????? This is the kind of document you stumble across in the wreckage of a city as you flee the hunterkillers, and scream a silent scream at the stupidity of your forebears.

And I think that "to attach the pause" is exactly how the japanese segments of our future robot overlords will refer to the act of wiping out an individual who resists them.

[John Stracke @ Jul 5th 2006 11:15AM]

AUA, why would they need to redesign the robot? Just redesign the kimono and stick the doll's head on top.

[Pal @ Jul 5th 2006 12:22PM]

That's no ordinary "creepy anime doll"! That's Rika-chan, Japan's equivalent of America's Barbie, just a bit more conservative (not as busty, not as anorexia inducing, etc.).

[Louise Sherikar @ Jul 5th 2006 1:11PM]

Re: The Hubo site mentioned by Brian. . . be sure and check out the "greeting video"!

[tim @ Jul 6th 2006 2:33AM]

Robots in kimono have been around for centuries here in Japan in the form of karakuri clockwork dolls. No they didn't have AI, but they could serve tea and shoot arrows. Rika-chan would have been much more impressed.

[The Jeremy @ Jul 6th 2006 5:28PM]

There's something about that robot that reminds me of the robot from *Saturn5*.

And as such, the robot is missing the complimentary Kirk Douglas figure with explosives strapped around his waist, and a matching Farah Fawcett figure (sans the angry Lee Majors figure with swivel-arm battle grip to beat up the collector's edition Ryan O'Neil figure) available with 5 proof-of-purchase seals.

I seem to recall at least two Kirk Douglas movies from that time where his character(s) strapped explosives to their waist(s). Kinda like how Charlton Heston appeared in several end-of-the-world flicks.

Anyways...