The Most Disturbing Machine Ever Built
It seems the Japanese Science and Technology Agency has managed to produce possibly the most disturbing machine ever built–”the most perfectly awful example of the uncanny valley (say, for a horror movie or something).”
According to the Engadget blog, The 33 kilogram CB2 (Child-Robot with Biometric Body) is literally beyond words in its freakiness, not only in its nailing of the uncanny valley, but in its description.
It emulates “the physical ability of a 1- or 2-year-old toddler, can turn over and stand up with assistance,” has 51 compressed air-powered actuators, and has 200 tactile sensors in its skin. Engadget’s Conrad Quilty-Harper comments: “It sends so many shivers up our spine to think of the CB2’s lifeless putty coating as ’skin’ that it’s a wonder we’re even able to continue typing.”
Although Japan’s birth rate is low and declining, the Tokyo Times blog does not think CB2 is any kind of potential solution: “unlike the real thing, CB2 is neither comical nor cute –far from it in fact.”
The sources have additional pictures as well as a video of “the horrifying little thing writhing about on the floor.” I guess nobody seems to much like the new humanoid robot.
Source: Engadget 06/03/07, Tokyo Times 06/02/07.
Related Post: “Karakuri Dolls Living Robot History,” EBT Blog 01/29/07.
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June 7th, 2007 at 1:57 pm
[…] I find it rather kawaii though (sort of) and can hardly wait to get old so I can have one take care of me in the nursing home! That’s assuming that I’m in worse shape than a 1- or 2-year-old toddler who can’t stand or turn over without assistance (very likely). [Source: EBT] […]
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