Japan's HRP-4C 'fashion model robot' unveiled, already harassed (update: video!)

While that perv in the back is busy shooting HRP-4C's firm buttocks shaped from a glossy Stormtrooper alloy, the rest of us can marvel at the fact that Japan has produced a walking, talking fashion robot. Standing at just over 5-feet tall and 95-pounds, HRP-4C, developed by Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, will make its catwalk debut next week at the Tokyo fashion show. The she-bot features 30 motors spread throughout its body with an additional eight motors in its face for expressing general boredom and disgust with the help. Its main purpose is entertainment and to attract crowds much like its fleshy counterparts -- so don't expect home cooked meals and laundry service should you take the $200,000 robot home. Unfortunately, HRP-4C didn't function as planned today. Reports say that the robot, "kept looking surprised, opening its mouth and eyes in a stunned expression, when the demonstrator had asked it to smile or look angry." Hmm, sounds like a fully functional model-slash-actress to us.

Update: Video posted after the break that's equal parts creepy and uh, creepy.

[Via Straits Times and Pink Tentacle]

[??? @ Mar 16th 2009 5:31AM]

That guy behind it looks creepy.

[iGoon#2 @ Mar 16th 2009 6:05AM]

Noob!

if you knew the basics of photography, you would know the technical term for such angled shots is called "Side Boob"

[giuliop @ Mar 16th 2009 6:16AM]

He's the master robot.

[papafew @ Mar 16th 2009 7:48AM]

maybe because it's a woman my dear "???"

[Flashpoint @ Mar 16th 2009 7:50AM]

The robot has so much paint/makeup on its face its dangerous close to looking like the average East Asian woman.

But whatever, in the dark, under the covers we are all black anyway.

I'LL TAKE TWO !!!!


Does it come in a Miko Lee model?

[MM @ Mar 16th 2009 8:33AM]

Something is wrong with Flashpoint!

[Sea Urchin @ Mar 16th 2009 9:59AM]

I think Japanese men will soon start dating Robots........................it's very very obvious that they like them.

[JAmerican @ Mar 16th 2009 10:15AM]

If Animes tell us anything, I'd agree with Sea Urchin

[TenaciousJ728 @ Mar 16th 2009 10:50AM]

Agreed Sea Urchin...

[Riverama @ Mar 16th 2009 11:05AM]

@iGoon#2 :
Dude, you're the noob!, clearly he's pointing his camera to the chick with the glasses' back!

[jmansfield04 @ Mar 16th 2009 1:25PM]

But does it blend?

[VampireHunter Z @ Mar 16th 2009 3:30PM]

Am I the only one that's creeped out by this. Jeez I would really love if they stop trying to make these things look human. It gives me the chills.

[??? @ Mar 16th 2009 5:29PM]

@iGoon#2: I was not referring to the positioning of the shot, I was referring to the being. That person just looks creepy, period.

@papafew: Long hair and unshaven does not a woman make, especially with the Japanese (who aren't particularly hairy). If you want to compromise, the androgyny involved makes the person creepier. :P

[Umut @ Mar 16th 2009 8:27PM]

She has huge hands :(

[Temmy @ Mar 16th 2009 5:35AM]

But what does she personally believe about the education such as in South Africa and the Iraq everywhere in such as?

[JYX @ Mar 16th 2009 5:43AM]

You can't fool me, that's not a sentence.

[Temmy @ Mar 16th 2009 6:17AM]

@JYX
Obviously you have no clue whom I'm referring to.

[giuliop @ Mar 16th 2009 6:22AM]

They should our education over here.

[JYX @ Mar 16th 2009 6:26AM]

Well no, it was as much a response to the referenced material as you. But you totally ruined the moment by getting all defensive.

[j_g_puff @ Mar 16th 2009 6:26AM]

JYX:

It caught me out first time too, but then I remembered this gem:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj3iNxZ8Dww

Well worth a watch.

(Here's Wikipedia's take on it, if you're scared of videos: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_Teen_USA_2007#Final_Competition)

[mcbr @ Mar 16th 2009 10:18AM]

most robots don't have maps

[ImaYam @ Mar 16th 2009 11:12AM]

They have google maps!

[iGoon#2 @ Mar 16th 2009 5:40AM]

1) too ugly, There are tons of HOT Japanese women to model after

2) Rack is waaay too small, if you are going to improve of the female form at least make it adjustable. (D, DD, DDD)

3) I suspect we will see a new genre of porn soon. Inter-Robotal!

4) AHAHAHAH!!!

[Stubb @ Mar 16th 2009 7:03AM]

You know, I actually loled irl because of this post.

[Smart People Play Tuba @ Mar 16th 2009 7:59AM]

Domo arigato, inter-robotal.


(sorry)

[OneLove @ Mar 16th 2009 10:25AM]

igoon or ihenchmen, or whatever you call yourself. You will never be an internet meme, so stop trying. You're just a troll.

[Giroro @ Mar 16th 2009 12:19PM]

A bigger rack would make it to top-heavy, it would be hotter BUT AT WHAT COST!

[BigD145 @ Mar 16th 2009 1:41PM]

1) This thing is actually cheaper than a model.

[michas_pi @ Mar 16th 2009 6:00AM]

I prefer Dot Matrix.

[Smart People Play Tuba @ Mar 16th 2009 8:00AM]

"Stop looking up my can!"

[Laughing Man @ Mar 16th 2009 1:19PM]

Nice ReBoot reference. Love it.

[ex.ex @ Mar 16th 2009 6:00AM]

I bet you'd find a chrome skull and glowing red eyes if you pulled that rubber mask off its face...
I'll admit I'm a little scared

[T-MAC @ Mar 16th 2009 6:10AM]

Then she says, "Come with me if you want to live" and everything will be ok.

[Cyantre @ Mar 16th 2009 6:09AM]

Change the hair to a light-blue and you just about have KOS-MOS from Xenosaga.

[RobotRock @ Mar 16th 2009 6:27AM]

here's the movie:

http://www.necn.com/Boston/SciTech/2009/03/16/Japanese-scientist-unveil/1237197705.html

[absinthe party @ Mar 16th 2009 7:19AM]

Here's the documentary:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088247/

[Grus @ Mar 16th 2009 7:35AM]

The guy to the right must be the keymaker, totally!

[giuliop @ Mar 16th 2009 6:25AM]

It's got that expression because it's being taken from behind. The photo, I mean.

[jack1701 @ Mar 16th 2009 7:00AM]

Make it look like Kylie Minogue and they have a winner

[Mr Epic Hero @ Mar 16th 2009 7:19AM]

pfft... what uncanny valley

[RockerAnimeFreak @ Mar 16th 2009 11:56AM]

lqtm... Give it another 20 years. it'll be here soon enough.

[BradS @ Mar 16th 2009 8:04AM]

It looks surprised because they're forcing it to walk around naked.

[BradS @ Mar 16th 2009 8:06AM]

It's taken this long for an "I, for one, welcome out robotic blah-blah-blah overlords" post?

[BradS @ Mar 16th 2009 8:07AM]

D'oh, "OUR robotic ...."

I need a robotic overlord to check my spelling.

[Warhorse @ Mar 16th 2009 1:01PM]

We are, BradS, we are...

[Redbeaver @ Mar 16th 2009 9:02AM]

the link says 200million yen or 3million dollar. not 200,000 dollar.

just FYI.

[Agent .25i @ Mar 16th 2009 9:07AM]

Whatever... It's just Anthony Daniels, expressing his feminine side.

[fredwifi @ Mar 16th 2009 10:14AM]

As usual - Daniels/3PO isn't exactly the most masculine bro on earth/in a galaxy far, far away.

[ShadowMaker @ Mar 16th 2009 10:51AM]

Than this would be She-3Po?

[Steven K @ Mar 16th 2009 9:56AM]

Oh...... so cute! its a baby terminator! just wait 10 more years and they will be killing people :) lol