Video: TOFU robot probably tastes like chicken

If a Big Bird bender resulted in a bumpin' of nasties with Keepon, well, this would be the genetic result. Meet TOFU, the "squash and stretch" robot with OLED eyes developed by the big brains over at the MIT Media Lab. Tofu applies techniques of social expression long used by 2D animators to explore the impact on robotics. If cute was the goal then we'd call this project a success -- enslave us now oh furry overlords of doom. Video after the break.

[R E Posted Jan 15th 2009 5:12AM]

shiznit, that's creepy

[DER GORF Posted Jan 15th 2009 5:28AM]

Wow...

Alll the other robot toys just received a bad ass kick in the groin...

[fade2blac Posted Jan 15th 2009 5:30AM]

So parents spend $50,000+ to send their kids to MIT and this is the end result?!

[DER GORF Posted Jan 15th 2009 5:31AM]

Best result evar!

[icecreamsocialist Posted Jan 15th 2009 6:15AM]

Actually, corporate sponsors pay for everything. Pretty sweet gig, if you have the imagination.

[fade2blac Posted Jan 15th 2009 6:30AM]

Okay, that is interesting and not a bad gig I suppose but please tell me who the corporate sponsors is for this.

[superhobo Posted Jan 15th 2009 5:42AM]

I saw a similar Japanese bot about a year ago.
It danced to music.

[gp Posted Jan 15th 2009 5:43AM]

Does the name stand for The Owl Fucked Up?

[fade2blac Posted Jan 15th 2009 5:55AM]

Older and possibly better?
http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/wowwees-alive-white-tiger-cub-gets-unboxed-showcased-on-video/

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 15th 2009 6:54AM]

indeed older, but not half as cool as this tofu owl.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 15th 2009 6:11AM]

it looks like a furby

[Professor Kaos Posted Jan 15th 2009 10:36AM]

I know, like we need another one of THOSE

[Professor Kaos Posted Jan 15th 2009 10:37AM]

Def. a furby upgrade. Just wait until the videos surface on youtube , burning this thing to the ground while it begs for mercy

[Decoy Posted Jan 15th 2009 6:50PM]

A homeless Furby who takes his style to the street!

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 15th 2009 6:42AM]

It looks like and balance druid o0. So, was someone at MIT playing WoW too much?

[2late2die Posted Jan 15th 2009 7:00AM]

I demand a dance-off between TOFU and Keepon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3g-yrjh58ms !

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 15th 2009 7:18PM]

It's a just a Keepon with Fur!!

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 15th 2009 7:25AM]

What really pulls me in is the intense zoom on the eyes at 0:06.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 15th 2009 7:32AM]

Wow great stuff!! music is extra too... just like some good old Money Mark.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 15th 2009 12:44PM]

What is weirder is that was some guy's master's thesis, I had to write 400 pages on psychoanalytic theory, and defend it in front of a stern committee of serious academics, and this guy got his master's letting the old boys sit and watch his bulbous, owl dance.

Life just is not fair.

[DustinM Posted Jan 15th 2009 8:44AM]

It looks more to me like it would take on the flavor of whatever it is cooked with. Why, with that fur and all.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 15th 2009 9:10AM]

tribbles!!!

[joe23521 Posted Jan 15th 2009 10:18AM]

Tofu can be made to taste like anything. Seriously.

[draftdubya Posted Jan 15th 2009 10:24AM]

Looks like the Nubbins on Sanctuary

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 15th 2009 10:35AM]

Furby 2.0? Mercifully it doesn't look like it speaks though.

[J Acheson Posted Jan 15th 2009 10:38AM]

The first ones were plushies. They were easy to spot...

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 15th 2009 3:08PM]

haha! I like it.

[marco916 Posted Jan 15th 2009 4:39PM]

Looks like what I pull out of computer cases at work.

[Decoy Posted Jan 15th 2009 6:57PM]

Mr. Ricker: I vote for continued updates on the progress of Tofu

[brie987 Posted Jan 15th 2009 9:59PM]

A furby with "plotting eyes"......Im scared. And it seem to always be looking for the exits, untrustworthy IMO.