QRIO

Made by: Sony
Height: 61cm
Pronounced “curio” the name stands for “quest for curiosity” in Japanese.

Purpose: To live with you, make life fun and make you happy.

What can it do? Walk, talk, run, dance, recognize voices and faces, play ball games and surf the web.

Features:

• Foot sensors so it can play soccer.
• Ankles with ball joints so it can walk on uneven surfaces.
• Picks itself up after falling and even checks itself for damage.
• Moves with quick, smooth movements. Check out this video of QRIO dancing.

HRP

Made by: Kawada Industries
Height: 1.5m
Weight: 58kg

Purpose: To work in human environments and use human tools.

What can it do? Walk, get up from awkward positions, walk on uneven surfaces and grasp objects.

Features:

• It can walk, crouch and get up off the floor as swiftly and smoothly as a human.
• Capable of working alongside humans in a range of industrial and domestic settings.
• Said to be the strongest and most agile of humanoid robots.

ASIMO

Made by: Honda
Height: 1.2m
ASIMO stands for: Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility, it also takes its name from robotic visionary Isaac Asimov.

Purpose: Began in 1986 as a study into human movement and has since evolved into a robot capable of a wide range of tasks.

What can it do? It can walk, run, turn corners, recognize hand gestures, carry objects, dance and climb up and down stairs.

Features:

• May be the most advanced humanoid robot in the world.
• Can perform simple tasks, such as switching on a light switch.

PARO

Made by: The Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (Japan)
Length: 45cm
Weight: 2.7kg

Purpose: Paro is a therapeutic toy designed to comfort those in need like the elderly and sick.

Features:

• Responds to stroking/cuddling through special touch sensors beneath its fur and on its whiskers.
• Modeled on a baby harp seal.
• Has voice recognition and authentic seal sounds.

PaPeRo

Made by: NEC
Height: 38cm
PaPeRo stands for: Partner-type Personal Robot

Purpose: To both entertain and assist around the house.

What can it do? Recognizes speech, talks, moves, responds to users, controls household devices.

Features:

• Recognizes 650 phrases and 3000 words.
• Can wirelessly control your TV and surf the internet.
• Designed to look cute so humans feel protective rather than threatened.

AIBO

Made by: Sony (Japan)
Height: 27cm
AIBO stands for: Artificial Intelligent Robot

AIBO features a variety of senses:

• Touch - Feels human contact through sensors on head, back, chin & paws.
• Hearing - Detects sound through a pair of stereo microphones, voice recognition.
• Sight - Color camera, distance sensors and facial recognition.
• Balance - Keeps balance through acceleration sensors.

Other features:

• AIBO possesses 5 basic instincts: Love, Search, Movement, Recharge & Sleep
• Each AIBO begins life as a newborn puppy, over time it will develop its own unique personality based upon how it is raised.
• AIBO likes to dance & play with his toys - An AIBOne and pink ball, he also likes to perform tricks with them.
• When AIBO is low on power he will seek out his energy station on his own.
• AIBO can take photos on command or whenever he chooses to, these can be sent via email or stored on his memory card.
• AIBO can look after you’re house when you are away, he can detect movement and sound, taking a picture and notifying you via email.
• As well as voice recognition, you can also communicate to AIBO using his graphics cards, these are useful when the surroundings are noisy.