[archive]

Robots Tagged: man

2005

Wakamaru

Category: Household – Tags: , , , , , ,

Wakamaru is a Japanese domestic robot made by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, primarily intended to provide companionship to elderly and disabled people. The robot is yellow, 1m tall, and weighs 30 kilograms. It has two arms and its flat, circular base has a diameter of 45 cm. It is in commercial sale today.

Wakamaru runs a Linux operating system on multiple microprocessors. It can connect to the Internet, and has limited speech (in both male and female voices) and speech recognition abilities. Functions include reminding the user to take medicine on time, and calling for help if it suspects something is wrong.

1982

KITT

Categories: Fiction, Film – Tags: , , , , ,

Essentially an advanced supercomputer on wheels, KITT (known also as Knight Industries Two Thousand/Knight Industries Three Thousand) is the short name of a fictional character on the adventure TV series Knight Rider. KITT is an artificial intelligence electronic computer installed in a highly advanced, very mobile, robot in the form of a 1982 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am.

KITT has special features such as Turbo Boost, which allows quick bursts of speed or jumping over obstacles, the ability to drive himself, a front mounted scan bar that, among other things, allowed KITT to “see,” “molecular bonded shell” coated body panel armor coating which resisted conventional weapon fire as well as most artillery and explosive blasts although a strong direct hit could cause severe damage. A refit in the 1985 season included the addition of “Super Pursuit Mode” and a convertible top. The car’s voice was supplied by actor William Daniels. [Wikipedia]

1918

Frankenstein

Categories: Fiction, Film, Literature – Tags: , , ,

Frankenstein is a novel written by Mary Shelley when she was 19. Frankenstein remains the classic reference point in automation, and builds upon the now classic mythology of the automaton turning on its master.
The title of the novel refers to a scientist, Victor Frankenstein, who learns how to create life and creates a being in the likeness of man, but larger than average and more powerful.
The story has had an influence across literature and popular culture and spawned a complete genre of horror stories and films. It is often considered the first fully realized science fiction novel due to its pointed, if gruesome; focus on playing God by creating life from dead flesh. [Wikipedia]

1964

Robot K-456

Categories: Art, Performance Art – Tags: , ,

A remote-controlled robot built to walk in the street with and playback music or recorded speech. It could also excrete beans as feces and liquid as urine.

Nam June Paik’s robot is named after a Mozart piano concerto and has the overall shape of a man, it is remote controlled and equipped with speakers allowing it to playback sound. It was built by Nam June Paik and Shuya Abe as a collaboration.

The robot was built to walk on the street and mingle with other pedestrians. In one performance Paik guided it through the streets of New York while K-456 played a recording of John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address and excreted beans at the same time.