Acroban: the childlike robot you want to punch (video)

We see a lot of robots around here. But few can evoke emotion without resorting to a doe-eyed visage or plush, Dough-Boy bodice. That's what makes Acroban so interesting. Dispensing with the cheap parlor tricks, Acroban still comes across as child-like, playful, seemingly dependent upon your care and guidance. Cute, even though it's a quivering mass of aluminum, wire, and servos with a questionable taste in headwear. Doesn't mean you won't punch it in the pie hole now and again just to show it who's boss -- it is a murderous robot after all. See what we mean after the break.

[Metallifux Posted Jul 30th 2010 6:23AM]

that is very impressive

[broli Posted Jul 30th 2010 6:29AM]

@Metallifux

It sure is, in a few years it'll have a proper skin, walk much more fluidly and say "I love you".

[jahkamren Posted Jul 30th 2010 6:31AM]

@Metallifux

I see this replacing those mechanic babies we all used in High School to get a grade in Health Class
.

[loocas Posted Jul 30th 2010 6:39AM]

@broli David?!

[Vylen Posted Jul 30th 2010 6:41AM]

@broli Nah, we'll probably see it with an Elmo skin.

[glassfin Posted Jul 30th 2010 6:47AM]

@Metallifux

very, very impressive. more impressive than aibo, which makes it even more impressive.

[robosexual Posted Jul 30th 2010 7:24AM]

@Metallifux
That's what she said!

[Measlesopolis Posted Jul 30th 2010 12:21PM]

at 1:44 they made two robots?

[Lucky Businessman Posted Jul 30th 2010 12:26PM]

@Metallifux

ебацца врасца!

[Lucky Businessman Posted Jul 30th 2010 12:26PM]

@Metallifux

ебацца всраца!

[Lucky Businessman Posted Jul 30th 2010 12:27PM]

@Metallifux

ебацца всраца!

[Extinction Posted Jul 30th 2010 12:40PM]

I'd rather punch the actual kids, so ugly

[Frankenstein Black Posted Jul 30th 2010 7:18PM]

@Metallifux - finally the real doll has a viable skeletal structure option on its way to becoming Cherry 2000!!

Ps oh, and the end of humanity...

[Mike10010100 Posted Jul 30th 2010 6:24AM]

Awwwwww!!! It's adorable! And extremely advanced. If only they could get it walking like a humanoid. But that little movement dance it does to walk is so cute!

[briguy266 Posted Jul 30th 2010 6:41AM]

@Mike10010100 AI!!!!!!!!!!!! lol

[GGG Posted Jul 30th 2010 6:25AM]

Nice :)

Now it just needs a better disguise so the humans won't suspect anything until it's too late.

[bingster Posted Jul 30th 2010 6:25AM]

I was First!... don´t delete my first post.

[jahkamren Posted Jul 30th 2010 6:33AM]

@bingster

First to fourth.

[yooyo3d Posted Jul 30th 2010 6:28AM]

Cute little bot.

[Ducman69 Posted Jul 30th 2010 6:29AM]

I'd be more impressed if it punched back.

[Measlesopolis Posted Jul 30th 2010 12:27PM]

it looks like the only way it can kill someone at the moment is by tricking them to walk off a cliff backwards

[tobsmonster2 Posted Jul 30th 2010 6:31AM]

Awww, they should totally make a film about this guy.

[JosephZ Posted Jul 30th 2010 6:32AM]

Child abuse !!! O.O

[mrqs Posted Jul 30th 2010 6:33AM]

a robot walks down the street in that hat, people know he's not afraid of anything

[Deloren Posted Jul 30th 2010 6:34AM]

looks creepy when it plays with the kid

[mrqs Posted Jul 30th 2010 6:42AM]

@Deloren

that's what she said

wait, what?

[KobaltKode Posted Jul 30th 2010 6:34AM]

And the heart's of engadget's commenters grew three sizes that day!

[Taller Posted Jul 30th 2010 6:38AM]

...and so Skynet gets functional mobility.

[exenter Posted Jul 30th 2010 6:41AM]

Is it just me or does it look like that robots have not been improved in the last two decades? They can barely walk FFS!

[amcd1982 Posted Jul 30th 2010 6:42AM]

Next step: T1000 and mankind's demise!!!!

[lopata Posted Jul 30th 2010 6:52AM]

this needs FROYO

[ckeledjian Posted Jul 30th 2010 6:53AM]

The way that grown up adult touched that naked baby robot and then punched it in the face. Absolutely disgusting....

[bradleigh Posted Jul 30th 2010 7:06AM]

Funny how all robot demos sound the same.

[MrPointedHelix Posted Jul 30th 2010 7:09AM]

Disappointed. I was really hoping one of the kids would just sock it hard....

[ThomasK Posted Jul 30th 2010 7:14AM]

a) too gummy - if you push real chilldren ;) it returns to its position and stays (and cries), not wobble like an idiot
b) should give hime some "muscle" so it can e.g. raise leg
c) why does it always put up one hand, when you put his second hand up?

but anyway it is quite impressive, it not acts as a robot most of the time (but not as a man as well, more like some gummy dolly with a rock in the ass which stabilise it)

[Elefantsau Posted Jul 30th 2010 7:28AM]

That is all very nice and dandy. Now stick an assault rifle or some c4 on the thing and off with it to iraq.

[Shunnabunich Posted Jul 30th 2010 11:00AM]

@Elefantsau ...and wait two weeks while it walks over to the insurgents from a safe distance in tiny, tiny steps.

[Zatte Aap Posted Jul 30th 2010 7:33AM]

All we need now is a robot priest...

[bigtimes Posted Jul 30th 2010 8:22AM]

He has special robot punching gloves.

[Camperton Posted Jul 30th 2010 8:57AM]

Ricker, you are one hilarious writer.

[inteller Posted Jul 30th 2010 8:58AM]

get your licks in now, soon that robot will evolve and rip you to shreds.

[hnb Posted Jul 30th 2010 9:07AM]

Very amazing!! Grand grand father of the bicentenial man. Just wondering if it runs Android. :) ... LOL

[Shunnabunich Posted Jul 30th 2010 11:01AM]

@hnb I always thought the name Android should've been saved for an OS that actually did run androids.

[prodigypv Posted Jul 30th 2010 12:21PM]

@Shunnabunich How do you know that google is not a giant conspiracy and they lived for the day they could release android with the excuse of more advertising? All those phones could one day turn against you... wait till 2012 and you will see what I mean...xP

[RickRik Posted Jul 30th 2010 9:42AM]

Impressive, but will it blend?

the walk is a fail imo...

[Cappr Posted Jul 30th 2010 9:55AM]

I love it :) it rly Impressive

[Mobile Broadband Posted Jul 30th 2010 9:59AM]

Awww how cute! This would be ideal for my grandma who has dementia - would keep her occupied for hours!

[bamb0ostick Posted Jul 30th 2010 10:10AM]

Add a soul: $5.99

[magallanes Posted Jul 30th 2010 12:38PM]

@bamb0ostick

There is pleasure in stealing the souls of machines.

[jo3lr0ck5 Posted Jul 30th 2010 10:23AM]

Seriously take this video down when the great-great-"grand child" of this robot finds this video he/she won't think its funny and we will really see how "soft" they are.