KornTech's Rogun robot recognizes faces and intruders
By Darren Murph 
posted May 20th 2007 4:05PM
posted May 20th 2007 4:05PM
While KornTech's Rogun won't go down as the first humanoid that sports both face recognition and intruder alerting functions, it does one-up many of the other prototypes by actually being available for purchase. The Korean startup has developed a kid-friendly one-meter-tall robot that "recognizes people through embedded cameras and high-end face-tracking software." Additionally, the bot can walk on its own and "perform various functions suitable for a security guard or nanny" such as pace the floors at night and give its master a cellphone warning if it recognizes any suspicious behavior. Rogun can even use its camera to show parents what mischief their kids are getting into at home by beaming video via its integrated WiFi chipset, and if watching the big screen is just too 2006, the youngsters can focus on the seven-inch LCD set within the device's chest. Of course, video telephony, internet browsing, and priceless companionship also come bundled in, and while the company hopes to sell these fellows for a mere $5,000 in time, snapping up your own Rogun at the moment will run you a whopping $100,000 or so considering the current BTO nature of production.[Via I4U]
Ahh, but can it walk up/down a set of stairs, or one step for that matter?
As demonstrated by asimo a while back,that isnt necessary.
Korntech? seriously?
RTFA
"The humanoid is named Hubo and the KAIST team seeks to make the self-regulated robot walk with a more human-like gait and give it the ability to climb up stairs. "
"Rogun?" God, I can't read that name without thinking back to that robotic sentry cannon from Final Fantasy VI. I don't want this thing anywhere near my kids.
*sigh* Someone has to do this, might as well be me:
I, for one, welcome our meter-high, face-recognizing, child-watching robot overlords.
...Wait, that ended up kind of creepy...
if it can get back up by itself if knocked over, cool.
if not, blah.