The Japanese introduce two child robots

We are perhaps not too far away from the day when humanoid robots will coexist with humans. Japanese researchers in Tokyo and Osaka have created two new childlike robots.

M3-Kindy (short for kindergarten) is a five year-old android child weighing 27 kg whose goal is to provide interaction between adult and child. His joints have freedom of 42-degree movement and his body is covered with 109 sensors. The robot also has eyes, cameras and other components.

The second robot is Noby (short for nine month-old baby). It is a baby that is 71 cm tall and weighs 7.9 kg. It is covered with 600 sensors and its sensory and physical abilities are similar to those of a real baby.

Researchers comment: "By comparing data compiled during the evolution of Noby’s knowledge to those relating to humans, we can make new discoveries. For men and robots to coexist harmoniously one day, it is important that the latter are capable of learning and enriching their knowledge. That’s why there’s a need for robots resembling a baby or a child."