Robot and robotechnology news
01.01.1970 //IT- flannelette: anthropomorphous robots or robotoobraznye people?
It must acknowledge honestly, the selection of theme for writing of sequential IT- flannelettes - occupation not of the simple. Entirely not because these themes do not be sufficient. On the contrary, it is simpler, when theme is determined or deliberately claimed. When that set, all are interesting - here at that time and arise flour of selection. Here, for example, it is very topical in our times theme - so-called "frilans". Or consonant by it, but nevertheless somewhat other and also very "hot" theme - the remote work. Has long ago been it been desirable to be expressed on the theme of conveniences and form factors of contemporary portable technology (from pleyerov and smartfonov to noutbukov), it seems me, in me there are several interesting ideas for the producers, not yet realized in practice, but completely to itself claimed by users. Or, for example, I suspect, that to many readers would be interesting the more- less structured material- survey on the "electrical money", i.e., about the contemporary methods of remote obtaining or remote expenditures of virtual money. And only visualize, what interesting matters are created now with the discoveries of transuranium elements, the experiments with the invisibility and by teleportatsiyey, by nano-technologies... In a word, if we thoroughly think, then it is possible to find tens of such burning issues, of not entirely plotted in the traditional sizes articles of our site, but the completely appropriate as such light "Sunday offtopa" of this column. This 4 to the fact that if you are actually interested in any similar directions, which only indirectly refer to IT- industry, not you polenites', scribble to me several lines into the mail with your opinion and wishes, following time, it is completely possibly, let us have a talk precisely about this. But today i have carte blanche, and is the steady desire to reason on the theme "into what tartaruses it rolls this entire abnormal peace to the accompaniment and with the active support IT- industry". As occasion for this mood served several entertaining it was hour, which I conducted recently in a study of Japanese and Korean sites for the object of the study of novelties in the region of robot technology. Especially as, very recently in the Asian part of our planet happened several uncommon events in this branch. First, in Japan recently ended exhibition CEATEC (Combined Exhibition of Advanced Technologies) JAPAN 2006, which occurred on 3 - 7 October into Makuhari Messe, by Tokyo. What- what, and the robots, including anthropomorphous, on this exhibition was represented a countless quantity, and several recent weeks we regularly reported about one or other wonder or another in our news. In the second place, entire future week will be dedicated to another exhibition, this time, specialized - Robot World 2006, which will pass in Seoul, South Korea. It is necessary to assume, with not less deafening success. And finally the third key event of last ne??..el' - discovery in and finally the third key event of last ne??..el' - discovery in city Sakaye (Sakae, Nagoyya). Museum, by the way, is combined with the store, where are sold exclusively robots, so that, after wandering on the halls, after playing a little and after admiring by exhibits, it is possible to select anything for themselves home of more than 2 thousand robots. In reality, after being satiated by diverse impressions from the survey of reports from the museum and the exhibitions, first of all arose the desire simply to describe about the most surprising novelties. There actually there is about which to tell - for example, in the central hall Robot Museum by the name ROBOTHINK the visitors have the capability to be trained in remote control of robots with the aid of different panels DU and even cell phones. Among the exhibits - all possible robot- housewives, robots - marine cats, robot- waiters, musicians, motorcyclists and so on. And it is now difficult to astonish properly by nevertheless such mechanisms. 4, certainly, I will not now miss the case to describe briefly about the assembled facts and the forecasts of the development of the market for not- anthropomorphous robots, but if to you this is uninteresting, several chosen paragraphs it is possible to pass without the loss of the sense of material. So here. Now are many different robots the specialized devices, programmed to one operation. Thus, iRobot Roomba is intellectual vacuum cleaner, and Robotics RL1000 Robomower on price $1800 with the dock- station - automatic gazonokosil'shchika. The majority of the specialized robots of altogether is only stylized under domestic robozveryushek or anthropomorphous essences, not and what is more. Over the long term, one of the tendencies of robotostroyeniya, most likely, it will pour out in the creation of personal universal robots - the assistants on the economy, who will take upon themselves the fulfillment of all possible domestic routine - from sweeping of floors and milking of cows to the dispersion of insecticides and fulfillment of the functions of nurse with the operations. Most likely, the market for such robots will be grow most dynamically. Thus, in the opinion Of stefena throw (Stephen Keeney), the leader of project ASIMO (Honda America), once in the present year of sale of robot- vacuum cleaners, Roomba will exceed the mark of 2 mln., in the following year of sale of such devices with similar moyshchikami of glass they will together grow still more. To 2009 - only in three years, in THE USA it will be sold the order of 4,5 mln. robots, which are specialized in the aid to housewives. To 2010 of sale of robot- assistants and "personal robots" will exceed level $17 of billion, and in 2025 these sales will comprise already about $52 billion. It will already have domestic robot or at least, plan this purchase soon to 2040 majorities of families. And nevertheless, these are the not entirely those prospects for "robot technology", by which dreamed A. azimov. During the specific financing the creation of all these robopylesosov presents by so??..oy task, well perhaps only a little is more complex than the design of contemporary surprising things like iPod, PDA, GPS, smartfonov, noutbukov or complexes from these technologies. But where all these surprising androides, clever houses and the artificial intellects, whose appearance was "obeshchano" visionaries only whether yet not to the end OF THE XX century? Many experts consider, that the contemporary state of robot technology, namely the passage of technologies from the laboratories of scientists into the sales departments of companies, is compared with the fact that survived the industry of the production of computers in 1970- X years. Actually, at that time yet there existed not decent element base for the realization of the impressive computational power, not were determined although some more or less universal commercial standards to the components PK. Actually, robot technology only assigned number of the fundamental questions, without permission of which the robots cannot become universal assistants, suitable for "independent" or at least more- less autonomous "existence". In other words, it gryadet. And, it is similar, boom will begin in the nearest time, if no longer it began. Unfortunately, a number of specialist- skeptics, who returned to polzhizni to the development of robots, they do not completely receive in earnest idea about the fact that the such universal robot- assistant of future will be anthropoid, i.e., by androide. The basic argument - why to enclose the vegetable-garden, when the descendants of contemporary robopylesosa learn to open door, to walk after the purchases, to polish toilets and to carry out thousands of other matters, remaining in the most functional for such tasks form - for example, to cart on four little wheels with the specialized hand- claws. Or the same robot- soldier, to which it suffices to have strong armor, precise manipulators for the combat engineering, the caterpillar for the impassable road, wings for the reconnaissance, the sucker for the diversions yes precision GPS- receiver - why to it human appearance? Robot- guard completely can be integrated into the bank equipment or the domestic system of monitoring, to it independent body is not completely assumed. Such examples it is possible to devise set. And nevertheless... you do know, if everything was then simply and it is rectilinear, why it would be, it does ask itself, to be occupied by the development of different imitators of human arms and legs, voice, sight and so on? Let us raise a question still simpler: if robots were examined exclusively from the point of view of applied application, from where to undertake the stunning popularity of the electronic trigger Sony Aibo? Yes, the industrial, military and other applied specialized robots are necessary, no one argues. But if people did not dream about the robots, similar to themselves or at least by domestic animal, these would be not people, but... probably, it is simple robots. It is difficult to say, why the sharpest need for the robots with the gumanoidnym appearance nowadays is fixed in Asia, mainly, in Japan and South Korea. Fact remains the fact: and developments in this direction are conducted there most actively, and public receives to "hurray" all novelties precisely there - the Japanese triggers Aibo, which in entire peace are sold more than 200 thousands, mainly, they settled precisely in Japan. It is completely possible that entire matter in the specific perception of the surrounding peace. Some researchers of phenomenon connect it with the fact that the robots interest the Japanese precisely as the partners, the assistants, but roots see almost in the Japanese tradition of the creation of the mechanical dolls of karakuri (karakuri) for the tea ceremonies even in the period of dynasty Edo (1600 - 1868). Possibly, precisely, therefore in the majority of the cases as a result of Japanese developments is obtained not abstruse mechanism from boltikov and zhelezyak, but, is faster, the alloy of new technologies and designer findings, does deal the discussion with the creation of complex robot -gumanoida, toy stylized under the trigger or even simple vacuum cleaner. Here such here is, it would seem, the irrational need "to animate" articles, in contrast to stamping of heartless automata, and it brings in the final sum to the high demand for the Japanese developments. Moreover in developers of the more pragmatic and militarizirovannykh European and American countries now in the traditions of the development of the robots most frequently of article for the military aims, and even if deals the discussion with the "humanization", then more frequently prevails the tradition of the creation of "frankenshteynov" and other monstruoznykh pseudo-essences. However, the factors, which influence the "animation" of Japanese robots, even without that it is quite sufficient, for example, demography. Visualize, order third of population of Japanese islands to 2050 they will have an age of 60 years and it is older. With the birth rate there as in the majority of the developed industrial countries, misfortune, plus is also very rigid immigration policy. And whom you will order to attend all these old men, to carry after them pots and patiently to listen their vorchaniye? Well actually, whereas not gaydzinov for this to leave... This is why one non-government Japanese consortium, which consists of seven companies plus Tokyo university, has concrete plans with respect to the development of the specialized robots, which 2008 they will as long ago as know how to be removed in the apartment, to their 2013 they will learn to cover bed, and as a whole to 2016 they can ensure the complete complex of care of elderly patients. In Japan questions of the development of robot technology also actively maintain themselves of government. Interesting example: very recently the Japanese ministry of the economy, trade and industry made the decision to isolate financing in size of $17 of million. to the development of the intellectual robots, capable of making in the working situation its own "deliberate" decision. They talk, that such robot- managers will appear in sale already to 2015. And nevertheless, whom it is possible to consider the robot of future, but whom it does not stand? Will become anthropoid androides our friends in the near future, or valuable domestic robot will become the grandson of the contemporary Japanese intellectual toilet, which for the "session" does manage to measure to you the pressure, the level of sugar in the blood and to describe all this by the pleasant voice (there is no face in it for the intelligible reason)? Or here is the development of company Nomura, which in the the New York NextFest represented robot- partner for the occupations by dances - Partner Ballroom Dance Robot (PBDR). Here here it is possible to look luxurious roller with deystvom of instruction. Altogether only for $300 this thousand robot on the small batteries will learn you to dance waltz, attentively following your erroneous and illegible motions. This android or still no? Hardly... And nevertheless not all so is bad, and now I will lay out to you the interesting selection of facts about the sufficiently successful developments in the region of "androidostroyeniya". Let us begin, perhaps, from the developments of intellect. During January 2006 the national Japanese institute of the industrial studies National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) declared about the development of the gumanoidnogo robot Hrp-2 (although, judging by the photo, by the prototype of "gumanoida" served someone of hell), equipped with the system of the independent been self-governing orientation. During the summer demonstration Hrp-2, reacting to the vocal command, it independently extracted from the refrigerator the jar of juice and brought it to that returned command. The basic elements of system are located in the "head" of robot - precisely there are located the contemporary camera- eyes and the system of perception and analysis of the surrounding situation and obstacles, which makes possible for robot independently to select and to correct direction of motion. During the presentation "was present" three components Hrp-2, connected with wireless network, which "associated" with each other, in this case one assumed commands, another was carried out task with respect to the extraction of the jar of juice, the third helped with the correction of route. Over the long term the developers intend to introduce entire system into the united "body". Here to you videotape from this presentation. Good? It impresses, is only here in the photograph not of gumanoid, but some animeshnoye scarecrow -mыcelo. But as to you this here is bright girl -android with an increase in 165 cm and with the weight only of 100 kg on name Actroid DER2 (Ho- Ho, Dramatic Entertainment Robot)? Development of company Kokoro (Sanrio Group), this aktroid (aktrisa+android. nothing to itself term from novoyaza of future!) in comparison with model 2005 it possesses the more thinned motions of hands and the considerably improved mimicry. Control of extremities, trunk and by an expression of face is accomplished with the aid of pneumatics. This model already can be programmed to choreography of the motions of legs and arms, transfer of the gestures, synchronized with the voice. Surprisingly accurately pered??..yushchey mimicry and the natural nuances of the skin call in Actroid DER the silicone coating, to which the soft silky voice corresponds. Thus far Kokoro passes aktroida Actroid DER2 to the lease to the measures to different companies, in this case base rate composes approximately $3500 in five days plus something on the trifles for the reprogramming and maintenance. You will focus attention, what in Actroid DER2 into the eyes! To only surmise it is possible, what tempting "girls" can leave from the hands of adroit masters! If there is a desire - it is possible to cast a look the small piece of video (below) on the roller below - the "girl" still of the first generation, Actroid DER. In a matter of the imitation of the naturalness of skin and eyes of the "girl friends of chelovekov" considerably succeeded the command of the developers of professor Takashi Mayeno (Takashi Maeno) from Keio University, which in the collaboration with the producer of cosmetic Kao Corporation not first yr is occupied by hypothesis Uncanny Valley and reached the substantial advances in the development of the artificial leather, similar according to the properties to the skin of man. As is known, human skin consists of it is layer soft tissue, covered with the protective layer (epidermis). Artificial leather with the possibility of the transfer of mimicry from the professor Mayeno, for the first time represented at 24-1 annual conference Robotics Society of Japan (RSJ), is comprised of 1 cm of "dermisa" from elastic silicone, covered with finest 0.2 mm by the layer of "epidermis" from durable urethan. A countless quantity of subminiature grooves, eliminated in the urethane epidermis with the observance of "honeycomb" 6- carbon geometry, they convert artificial leather in potryasayushche realistic texture. That are interesting, with conducting of testing ten of 12 subjects, who touched the artificial leather, was accepted it for the natural human skin. And if in Kao Corporation expect to use an idea for further developments of new it is specific cosmetics, then professor Mayeno it is confident in the success of the application of this development for creating the skin of domestic androides. Concerning the development of mimicry, it is further all, perhaps, it visited nowadays Khiroshi Ishiguro (Hiroshi Ishiguro), professor Osaka University and the developer of laboratory ATR Intelligent Robotics and Communication Laboratories. Its double on name Geminoid (Gemin in Latin exactly "double, twin", and "- oid" the known suffix of the reflection of "similarity") is executed as the precise copy of professor - body with 46 degrees of freedom was copied Ishiguro and executed by company Kokoro - with that same which produces "aktroidov", and the form of skull is executed after the volumetric scanning of its head. Moreover, android Geminoid also inherited some manners of its "roditel4"- double. Material of the skin - soft silicone tissue. Thus far Geminoid is connected by the network of the cables of nourishment and unable independently to arise from the armchair. But, takeing into account achievement in the short time - to the development of the body it is shrewd only half a year, and to software three months??..ozhno to say that the prospects for development are very iridescent. One of the reasons for development Geminoid, according to the professor Ishiguro, became the realization of the idea of remote "tele-presence". I.e., you sit, for example, the houses, in the soft slippers, and your double is answerable itself for you somewhere on the work or at the press conference in many kilometers from the house, in this case obediently repeating after you all words and mimicry. Yes that there, you themselves can "dofantazirovat'" the idea of simultaneous presence in two places... In a word, to gather nowadays decent androide, very and very reliably similar to the man, is not yet simple, but it is completely possibly. By confirmation to that - here is this the "girl" of the authorship of the South Korean institute of industrial technologies, The Korean Institute for Industrial Technology (KITECH), for the first time represented on 4 May. Even it is somehow inconvenient to call this robot "robot", here already they lived... It is agreeable, so here, this artificial damochka obtained face, copied and combined "on the motives" of the parameters of two stars, the trunk, copied in one singer, and the claims name EveR-1 indicates the combination of the part of the name of the first biblical woman - Eve, with bukovkoy "R", i.e., "robot". According to external data EveR-1 is simple sportswoman and activist: in its twenty (judging by face), has increase in 160 cm, weight of 50 kg, excellently imitates the motions of the upper part of the body and manages the mimicry of their silicone face, which transmits with the aid of 15 built-in electromotors unexpected happiness, malice, melancholy and satisfaction. Alas, the lower part Of "evarobota" thus far is fixed, then this does not prevent it from following with eyes face of collocutor, recognizing order 400 words and completely tolerably supporting the oral conversation (Ellochka Of lyudoyedka it nervously smokes in storonke!). In addition to this, Yevarobot can to vpechatlyayushche supplement its lexical reserve, which after reprogramming makes it possible "to throw" it, let us say, from the place of guide in the museum into the class with pyatiklashkami, to which it successfully will describe the heap of interesting flannelettes. If we fantasize, then even to visualize is terrible that whom even besides guides and teachers it can replace Yevarobot. 4 so I think, to the majority of secretaries and even to some wives it is time already to begin to survive apropos of the appearance of a straight competitor, which without any objection and without the whims makes very much, almost all; -) By the way, to begin to worry it is possible and to all possible "stars of stage", which open mouth under the phonogram. It does ask itself, why to be connected with these capricious glamurnymi persons, when there are such remarkable girls? However, several months variety pevichki can live without the fear. The fact is that "sestrichka" Of evarobota, EveR-2 Muse, which exactly thought as the first in the world artificial variety executor of the songs (no, offensive word "artificial" let us nevertheless leave to its "fonogrammnym" biological competitors, let there will be the simply "synthetic"), whom they was going to show on the following week on exhibition Robot World 2006 in Seoul, it was traumatized with the transportation in exhibition Hall. If to be more precisely, then malyshku they chrestomathically dropped, after breaking by it neck. Although EveR-2 knew how altogether to only stir by lips and to make simple dancing Pa (as shows practice, for many variety workers and this much), world of the premier of its song "I'.ll close my eyes" is postponed by the indeterminate period. For some reason I is confident, that neck to girl rolled up the rough celoveki- loaders. If its transport was charged to intellectual robot, nothing similar it happened. SR! * UHF! * Such matters. Developers Yevarobotov consider that the successful developments of the basic functions of the imitation of the vital activity of living person will allow them to very rapidly improve their models. But there, as is known, to the mass production, and therefore to sharp reduction in the prices - one step. In the opinion of the developers of sestrichek EveR, the development of technologies completely will make it possible to have similar robots in each family already to 2020. At least, the series production of such robots is planned by South Korean government already for following yr. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- personally me in all these tendencies disturbs one chief problem. Here let us assume all these utonchenno the developed imitators of arms, legs, mimicry, vocal chords and other "elements of the construction of man" in combination with the outstanding computational abilities, the artificial intellect and by the excellent "long-playing" small batteries will sooner or later reunite, as a result of which will come out completely to itself... who? Friend of man? Let us assume friend. Here is this friend himself, somewhat poevolyutsionirovav, will become actually perfect - clever, ideally beautiful, excellently dancing also to the equal degree utonchenno capable of supporting conversation about the rate of change, the chamber music and the creation Of venechki Of erofeyeva. To this "friend" in the course of time it will be possible to charge obtaining wage, accomplishment of purchases, preparation of food. Yes everything can be charged, to that it is created! Well let us affect the other side of the coin. This here "damochka" with the appropriate programming and the appearance Of merilin will be ideal partner in the life: not it will beg neither money nor attention, without any objection will prepare supper and will do some washing noses, it will listen to the whining of poor mood and nothing it will think about the poor smell from the mouth... What you there do speak, the robots do not have any and not it will be never soul and valuable intellect? Kha! Apropos of soul I can note that in its many chelovekov also it is not observed - especially when "simply so" they strike my wives, from the boredom they mutilate animals and "simply" they war. The same I can say about intellect, in regard to this in his time excellently was expressed Robert a. khaynlayn in his book "sufficient time for the love, or life of Lazarus Long": "never appeal to the best qualities of man. Possibly, it does not have available them. More reliably to be turned to its personal interest ". I.e., personally to me are known many not having available these qualities chelovekov, in life of which besides the exclusively "automatic" calculation of prosperity there is nothing there is - either sentimentality or love nor pity nor passion. But even if does make smooth this "whim", then who did say that android will imitate all this worse than chelovekov? Are better, brothers, it is better! And which will be with the men during this gloomy distribution? No, 4 certainly optimists and not I will now start pessimistic vorchaniye about even sharper reduction in the birth rate and terrible degradation during two-three generations of grown very lazy lyudishek. That you, all will be not so, certainly, humanity evil robots from another galaxy will destroy!