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HumanKind created at Hanson Robotics
July 22, 2008
Have you ever wished for a copy of yourself—one who could look and act just like you—for those moments when you’d rather be somewhere else? I’m sure Ferris Beuller could have used one while on his day off.
With the scientific innovations of Hanson Robotics, that wish could be a possibility. Hanson Robotics, founded by Dr. David F. Hanson, has worked to develop a variety of human-like robots, known as HumanKind, and can even create a replica of you.
According to their Web site, the main purpose for founding Hanson Robotics is to “design, develop, produce, and distribute revolutionary, interactive, bio-inspired conversational robots.”
These virtual robots are designed to take on roles in a variety of areas including entertainment, consumer, and medical worlds. While similar robots can be mass produced, custom, one-of-a-kind character robots may also be developed through the process known as Identity Emulation. In this process, a real person is recreated in a robotic form. Some examples of this, created by Hanson Robotics, include Albert-Hubo, featuring the characteristics of Albert Einstein and the Phillip K. Dick robot.
The robots developed by this company are unlike any other due to their ability to simulate interactive, human-like facial features. This ability has been developed through the use of Frubber, “flesh rubber,” as well as the integration of a variety of innovations with materials, hardware, software, aesthetics, characters, and stories.
Through the use of advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) software architecture, these robots are able to walk, talk, maintain eye contact, recognize faces and speech patterns, and simulate a real person’s personality.
Some of the other robots created by Hanson Robotics include Jules, a conversationalist robot; Eva, a universal beauty; and Joey Chaos, a robot rock star with strong political views.
Hanson Robotics was founded in late 2003. Since then the work of Dr. Hanson and his team has lead them to be recognized as leaders within the robotics world.
Posted by Melissa D'Amico on July 22, 2008 | Comments (0)
