[Tyler]

HRP-C4: The First Robot Super Model
     


Several readers sent stories about the first robot to get a
job as a runway model. HRP-4C is a humanoid robot with an expressive,
android-like head. The robot was created by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial
Science (AIST) in Japan with the goal of reducing the size of their
humanoid robot technology enough to fit into the form factor of a human
female. HRP-C4 is 158 cm (a bit over 5'2") high and weighs just 43 kg
(95 lbs). The robot runs ART-Linux 2.6, a real-time
extension to the free software GNU/Linux OS. HRP-C4's creators decided
the best job for a $200,000 female humanoid robot would be - a fashion
model. She'll be walking the runway at Japan Fashion Week on
March 23. Oddly, the robot model will not be modeling any clothes. After
an initial preview, the robot model was already being pressured to lose
weight by industry experts who complained
her figure was "too ordinary" and that she was too short to be a model.
Observers also noted the model was sometimes confused or surprised by
questions from the reporters and photographers. For more information,
see the AIST
press release (Japanese) or the zillion other stories
on HRP-C4

   

http://robots.net/article/2784.html