M3 robots used to research human development, melt hearts (video)
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted March 5th 2010 11:28AM
posted March 5th 2010 11:28AM
Let's face it: anything that a human can do a robot can do better. Whether it's teaching our youngsters, giving physical therapy to our oldsters, or reading bedtime stories, robots are coming out on top. Researchers at Osaka University have developed two new devices recently called M3-neony and M3-synchy ("M3″ stands for "man-made man," while "neony" refers to the word neonate, and "synchy" to synchronized communication). The former is essentially a baby simulator that will be used to test machine learning software designed to shed some light on fine motor skill development. It is equipped with a pair of CMOS cameras for sight and microphones for hearing, gyro and accelerometer sensors, and tactile sensors. And it can crawl! The latter robot was developed to study communication through use with object recognition, speech recognition, and speech synthesis software. On the hardware end, this guy sports a head-mounted CCD camera, two microphones, a speaker, and fifteen LEDs (for making the robot blush). Needless to say, these are both very adorable -- so much so, in fact, that we might not even notice if they weaponize themselves. Let's just say the future just got a little cuter. And a little deadlier. Video after the break.
This is going to give me nightmares..
What was that old horror movie when creepy looking babies (aliens?) killed people? I see a remastered version coming.
@bricktop
If you think they're scary *now*, just wait until you see what they melt your heart with.
It involves molten steel and sharks.
@bricktop
I don't know about the movie... but these look a lot like the flying baby demons from doom 3 hehehe
Run it will melt your heart!!
@Steafan
it's got a friggin' laser strapped to its brain!
with it's laser eyes?
Don't tell my girlfriend about this whole "anything a human can do, a robot can do better" stuff.
@UnixSystemsEngineer
That's why you get something that hums but isn't phallic.
Hitachi Magic Wand. You can thank me later.
The only way that thing would melt my heart is with a hot piece of slag.
Cute and scary at the same time.
Aww...the little bot is learning to kill.
When I read that they were melting hearts, I first thought it would be with lasers, as opposed to cuteness.
The only robot I care about is Bender Bending Rodríguez.
Just looking at those pictures I am kind of creeped out.
The first one will be called Chucky.
These little ones will go around distracting the gullible humans while the killer robot sneeks up from behind.
kill it with fire
It"s like a baby terminator
aww soo cute, maybe this one will take our side after the robot uprising
it reminds me of clank from ratchet and clank for some reason
I prefer robots in the you-may-actually-be-able-to-buy-it category. Are these destined for retail anywhere?
These are rather creepy in a Chucky sort of way.
Now, This is scary.
Glad to see that this time (unlike with those vacuum cleaners that will begin mapping living rooms across the world O.o) you didn't forget to put that "robot apocalypse" tag :-).