[POPULAR SCIENCE] The Loneliest Humanoid in America

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2010/08/05 11:01 Hit 13,605

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[POPULAR SCIENCE]

The Loneliest Humanoid in America

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Walking, self-contained, adult-size robots are commonplace in robotics labs in Japan and South Korea, but there’s only one made here. Why are we falling behind?

By Jacob Ward Posted 07.20.2010 at 1:02 pm

Byoungsoo Kim is the founder and CEO of the Seoul-based company Robotis, which produces off-the-shelf parts for use in robotics systems, including CHARLI-L. Kim believes that an open-source community working on a standardized platform could transform American robotics the way open-source development has transformed computing. Without that community, he says, “the robot itself is nothing. The software is what’s important.”

Let’s assume that someday you will have, in your home, a humanoid robot helper. The robot, because it’s shaped like you, can use your tools and move easily around your house. It folds the laundry, it helps your elderly mother up the stairs, and on Sundays it makes brunch for the family. It’s capable of handling almost any household chore you can throw at it.

Now let’s imagine that you’re out on the lawn, kicking a ball around with your son. Your robot helper is in another part of the yard, its back to you both, fixing a drainpipe. Your son misses a kick, and the ball winds up a few feet from the robot. “Hey, robot!” you shout. “A little help?” The robot turns in place, spots the ball, walks over, and kicks it back to you. The game resumes.

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