HRP-4C fashion model robot

Video of Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology's HRP-4C, "a walking, talking humanoid fashion model fembot." HRP-4C fashion model robot

[#1 posted by inkfumes, March 16, 2009 9:44 AM]

At last, robot wives will soon be cheap, effective and plentiful.

[#2 posted by Fludzone, March 16, 2009 9:54 AM]

As awesome as it is to see that robot, it's also really creepy

[#3 posted by QueQueg72, March 16, 2009 10:00 AM]

You are an incredible robot, AWESOM-O. I was just wondering... are you by chance a ...pleasure model?

[#4 posted by El_Cid, March 16, 2009 10:00 AM]

I dunno -- it just looks like computer animation to me. Maybe not. But the movements look more like a simulation.

[#5 posted by dross1260, March 16, 2009 10:01 AM]

When does it sat "Oil can!"

[#6 posted by erissian, March 16, 2009 10:02 AM]

Finally, a fashion robot built like a real woman!

[#7 posted by brooklyntwang, March 16, 2009 10:06 AM]

for the man who wants a woman that moves like C3PO

[#8 posted by QueQueg72, March 16, 2009 10:10 AM]

I'd also like to add... the uncanny valley called.

They want their freaky japanese robot girl back.

[#9 posted by Anonymous, March 16, 2009 10:14 AM]

does no one else realize how much better than any other humanoid robot that exists today this is? 2 more generations beyond this, and we'll have a nearly human robot! this is bounds beyond asimo! WOW. I'm really amazed.

[#10 posted by NeilFraser, March 16, 2009 10:16 AM]

El_Cid is right, this video looks distinctly CGI. That aside, the HRP-4C is definitely a real piece of hardware, Googling for it returns lots of photos. However this video is the only evidence I can find of it being functional. So at the minimum we have one plastic mannequin and one CGI concept video. Can anyone find further evidence of it being real?

[#11 posted by Mojave, March 16, 2009 10:22 AM]

Hands are waaaaaaaaaaaayy too big and out of proportion. Other than that, I'll take 2.

[#12 posted by nutbastard, March 16, 2009 10:23 AM]

Oh when will the uncanny valley be closed so that the other uncanny valley can be opened (for business)?

Because the only question on any reasonable persons mind is, 'yeah, but... can I fuck it?' (and would I want to?)

[#13 posted by stevew, March 16, 2009 10:23 AM]

a dead ringer for some of the waitresses around here

[#14 posted by EH, March 16, 2009 10:33 AM]

Love the sneakers and the various layers of watermark in the lower right corner.

[#15 posted by codereduk, March 16, 2009 10:39 AM]

I, for one, welcome our new walking, talking humanoid fashion model fembot overlords.

[#16 posted by chris, March 16, 2009 10:43 AM]

@#2 Exactly.

[#17 posted by 13strong, March 16, 2009 10:46 AM]

I never understand quite why robots are a) made to look human, and b) given a gender.

[#18 posted by ethancoop, March 16, 2009 10:54 AM]

So are those C-cup batteries?

Do the D-cup batteries make it run longer or just give it back problems over a period of time?

[#19 posted by rasz, March 16, 2009 11:01 AM]

it walks like asimo, its stable at all times. People dont move like that, we constantly fall forward. Thats why it looks fake.

[#20 posted by phlavor, March 16, 2009 11:05 AM]

Pffft. Real fashion models do it in six inch heels fueled by nothing more than cocaine and vodka.

[#21 posted by nigelstwin, March 16, 2009 11:32 AM]

Point of interest:
At least it doesn't appear to have machine gun jumblies.

[#22 posted by spazzm, March 16, 2009 1:22 PM]

Rasz, spot on.
I'm guessing that the walking is controlled by the Zero Moment Point (ZMP) algorithm, which is why she's got a constant bend in her knees. Note the colour scheme (when she's seen in profile) that makes the knees looks straight even when they are bent.

Impressive, but it's still little more than Asimo with a wig.

[#23 posted by GregLondon, March 16, 2009 2:15 PM]

definitely uncanny

[#24 posted by citykids, March 16, 2009 2:18 PM]

They might consider swinging the arms, it almost had me fooled.

[#25 posted by arkizzle / Moderator, March 16, 2009 2:25 PM]

#10 NeilFraser,

It's been all over the Channel 4 news here in the UK. It is most certainly real and functional.

[#26 posted by Anonymous, March 16, 2009 2:27 PM]

Same as with the Roomba.

This Fashion Model Robot will only be useful for its intended purposes, if it can changes its own clothes.

The Roomba Analogy -The Roomba robotic Vaccum cleaner will not be truly useful or widely adapted until it can empty its own dust bin. At least it can make it back to a recharging base, but it is not truly self maintaining. Running the vaccum around the floor is the easy part.

Robotic Kitty Litter sifter boxes are more work for the owner than a passive litter box

[#27 posted by toxonix, March 16, 2009 2:41 PM]

#20 FTW!

It walks like it's on ice. Models certainly don't walk this way EVER, even on ice. And its way too fat.

[#28 posted by MrCortes, March 16, 2009 2:43 PM]

This is really creepy..... and sexy at the same time. :P

[#29 posted by AdamConus, March 16, 2009 2:46 PM]

This is bad. Now when there's a fight on America's Next Top Model there will be missiles and lasers!

[#30 posted by Anonymous, March 16, 2009 2:54 PM]

With hands like that, I was half expecting it to spin up and fly away like a helicopter.

[#31 posted by arkizzle / Moderator, March 16, 2009 2:57 PM]

Asimo is sexier.

[#32 posted by arkizzle / Moderator, March 16, 2009 2:58 PM]

..and I'm not even robohomosexual.

[#33 posted by arkizzle / Moderator, March 16, 2009 3:01 PM]

"This Fashion Model Robot will only be useful for its intended purposes, if it can changes its own clothes."

Why? Catwalk models don't.

[#34 posted by Anonymous, March 16, 2009 3:12 PM]

Top Gear once did an experiment to see which impressed women more: an aston marten or a puppy. The women all flocked to the puppy.

If the (presumably) painfully dorky and socially awkward genius males who make fembots were to start making something like Teddy from AI they'd actually have a much easier time meeting women.

Let's see them come out with a robo-Fabio (Robio?) and see how men feel about it :P

[#35 posted by Ponchyan, March 16, 2009 3:49 PM]

1. The big difference between HRP-4C and Asimo is that her "pelvis" pivots around a vertical axis when she walks; Asimo's leg's only flex forward/backward from stationary hips. This makes her gate look more natural even though, like Asimo, she is not falling forward when she walks (in contrast to humans, who are falling forward with each step).

2. When she bows, the movement uncannily natural. Just like one might see at a department store.

[#36 posted by howaboutthisdangit, March 16, 2009 4:00 PM]

The Bride of Asimo.

#2: Agreed. The current state of the art combines biological details and mechanical traits in a way which can be unsettling.

[#37 posted by Anonymous, March 16, 2009 5:54 PM]

It's cool that it walks without falling over, but frankly it's really creepy. It's in the ravine of the uncanny valley. The big problem I see is that even if they had gotten past looks, there's no brains to speak of. It's too bad we're still a long way off from having a really useful robot.

[#38 posted by consideredopinion, March 16, 2009 6:42 PM]

American robots are the pinnacle of remote lethality.

Japanese robots (of this kind) are the pinnacle of anti-feminist patriarchy.

Do I detect a common problem in all these designs?

[#39 posted by consideredopinion, March 16, 2009 6:44 PM]

I also wonder when the rest of Metropolis will be realised.

[#40 posted by johannm, March 16, 2009 8:28 PM]

I demand that work on this project stop until I have my jetpack!

[#41 posted by efalk, March 16, 2009 10:08 PM]

Uncanny Valley, next exit.

OK, fembot -- that's just creepy.

But it looks like I'm going to have that robot butler I've always wanted. I've even picked out a name for him.

[#42 posted by Anonymous, March 17, 2009 3:21 AM]

does the mouth work?

[#43 posted by TroofSeeker, March 17, 2009 7:47 AM]

I don't think the hands are functional, and that's why they call it a fashion robot.

Let's face it- we want bots to be our slaves. Laborers. non-op hands renders it an amusement. Come back when your bots can vacuum, scrub and dump the cat box. Carry the piano upstairs.
Back in the fifties we had Mr. Machine- he could do more than this thing.
Still, it would me nice to have a companion...

[#44 posted by Hicham, March 18, 2009 6:35 AM]

Ah! Robots are taking control over and over, however nothing can simulate the human nature.

[#45 posted by zygbot, March 21, 2009 2:58 AM]

This is a big breakthrough for humanoid robotic technologies, but HRP-4C also raises serious consideration for how robots of the future will be integrated into society. What rights will a humanoid robot have, and what sets of ethics or morals will they follow? Will robots be capable of love and affection? These are all valid questions that society will eventually have to face. Thoughts?
See "HRP-4C: Japanese robot girl makes ASIMO blush" at Zygbotics

[#46 posted by lann, March 25, 2009 3:41 PM]

I am impressed. the hard part was making it walk. this hrp-4c looks almost human.
quite a accomplishment. I would love to have a robot companion. a R2D2 that does not look like a trash can. Wonder how much?

[#47 posted by Anonymous, April 23, 2009 11:04 AM]

Hmmm..."Saturn's Children" anyone?