We just found a new friend. Kojiro, a
humanoid being built by the University of Tokyo's JSK Robotics Laboratory, has a detailed musculoskeletal system built to mimic the human body. It works on a system of artificial bones, muscles and tendons to create a robot that is theoretically more light and agile than your regular bot, and which moves in a more organic fashion to our untrained eyes. The bot has motors which pull cables that simulate the method which muscles and tendons interact, and has about 100 tendon-muscle structures, giving it 60 degrees of freedom -- more than an average rotary joint bot like Asimo (34 degrees, last time we checked). The robot shaves weight with its lighter, plastic materials and small brushless motors. The idea is to make a robot that's more people friendly by not being substantially heavier or more rigid than a human it might come into contact with. Of course, that's not the only perk of a bot built like this: the human-style flexible and twistable spine gives Kojiro all sorts of abilities that your regular bot is just too straight-spined for. Like the limbo, for instance. The big difficulty here is that all the motion and flexibility means Kojiro is a big chore to program, and there's an army of gyros, accelerometers and force sensors embedded throughout the bot to help it learn its balance. Currently they're working with an iterative learning process to get small motions down until Kojiro can eventually manage more complex motions like sitting motionless at a desk for nine hours on a Saturday, tending to FarmVille. Check out a video of Kojiro in limited action after the break.
posted March 7th 2010 2:10AM
it looks angry...
Why does it have a nose and mouth?
Not like its going to get hungry or suffocate.
at least our Robot overlords will look cute...
iRobot?
@NaJaKwa
iRobot? Don't risk to be suit by Apple.
They even poatent the colors of the ribon wires used iun the robot.
Those are the colors of the original Apple logo.
@pinguino1
Looks like an early version of the robots in iRobot. Not an apple comment.
The loading screen reminded me of a Knightmare Frame's loading screen.
According to evolution, this robot was formed by accident..LOL
It's so funny to see how people try to replicate the creations of God in every way.
I really despise the term 'inventors', they don't invent, nor create, they take what already is and use it for a different purpose.
Take glue for example, did someone invent glue? Or did they just try to replicate something that is already is nature?
It's all just copying people, no one deserves 'patents' or 'trademarks', that's just selfish.
How can the world be a better place when everyone monopolizes an idea in one way or another? Where is the competition?
There is none if everyone has there way.
@jzetz
If you really, truly can't see certain things as "inventions," if you can't call anyone an "inventor" without getting hot-and-bothered about how God holds all the patents – or whatever it is you think – then I feel sorry for you. Ever been to a hospital? Ever seen someone walk on the moon? Your nonsense isn't even worth arguing against, but I felt obligated to respond since this kind of commentary is out of place on a tech blog. Believe whatever you want, but kindly spare me – and I'll do likewise.
A little disappointed; I expected to see him walk :-/
@jzetz
Great, then can you give us a substitute for the verb "invent" so we can describe the actions of people who fabricate or produce with imagination?
@jzetz
I just threw up in my mouth a little.
stupid japs always making irrelavant shi*t..we dont need this garbage.
Its all amazing now b/c its cute and they can barely walk and have an Apple-inspired face...
... but when they grow up and the awkwardness is replaced by screams and blood, it won't be so fascinating. This is the beginning of the end. Resistance out.
The guy who introduces this robot wears Galatasaray SK strip. Galatasaray, everywhere...
Crud, reminds me of GITS
Don't give him scissors for hands and then die before giving him real hands.