A humanoid robot is a robot with its body shape built to resemble that of the human body. A humanoid design might be for functional purposes, such as interacting with human tools and environments, for experimental purposes, such as the study of bipedal locomotion, or for other purposes. In general, humanoid robots have a torso, a head, two arms, and two legs, though some forms of humanoid robots may model only part of the body, for example, from the waist up. Some humanoid robots may also have heads designed to replicate human facial features such as eyes and mouths. Androids are humanoid robots built to aesthetically resemble humans.
Purpose
Humanoid robots are used as a research tool in several scientific areas.
Researchers need to understand the human body structure and behavior (biomechanics) to build and study humanoid robots. On the other side, the attempt to the simulation of the human body leads to a better understanding of it.
Human cognition is a field of study which is focused on how humans learn from sensory information in order to acquire perceptual and motor skills. This knowledge is used to develop computational models of human behavior and it has been improving over time.
It has been suggested that very advanced robotics will facilitate the enhancement of ordinary humans. See transhumanism.
Although the initial aim of humanoid research was to build better orthosis and prosthesis for human beings, knowledge has been transferred between both disciplines. A few examples are: powered leg prosthesis for neuromuscularly impaired, ankle-foot orthosis, biological realistic leg prosthesis and forearm prosthesis.
Besides the research, humanoid robots are being developed to perform human tasks like personal assistance, where they should be able to assist the sick and elderly, and dirty or dangerous jobs. Regular jobs like being a receptionist or a worker of an automotive manufacturing line are also suitable for humanoids. In essence, since they can use tools and operate equipment and vehicles designed for the human form, humanoids could theoretically perform any task a human being can, so long as they have the proper software. However, the complexity of doing so is deceptively great.
They are becoming increasingly popular for providing entertainment too. For example, Ursula, a female robot, sings, play music, dances, and speaks to her audiences at Universal Studios. Several Disney attractions employ the use of animatrons, robots that look, move, and speak much like human beings, in some of their theme park shows. These animatrons look so realistic that it can be hard to decipher from a distance whether or not they are actually human. Although they have a realistic look, they have no cognition or physical autonomy. Various humanoid robots and their possible applications in daily life are featured in an independent documentary film called Plug & Pray, which was released in 2010 it continue.....
3. What is it?
• Robots that look like
or mimic people
• Like an android?
Humanoid refers to any
being whose body
structure resembles
that of a human: head,
legs, arms, hands.
It resembles a human
both in appearance
and behavior.
4. Characteristics of Humanoids
• Self-maintenance
• Avoiding harmful situations to people,
property, and itself
• Safe interacting with human beings and the
environment
• Legged locomotion
• Arm control and dexterous manipulation
5. History of the Humanoid
Robot
• Karel Čapek coins the
term “Robot” – 1921
• 1930’s to 70’s: theory
of humanoid shapes,
electronics, and
movement.
• Not until 1970’s until
a practical
autonomous Robot of
this type
• Boom in development
from 1980 to present
6. WABOT-1
(1970~1973)
• Waseda University
• The first fun-scale humanoid
robot developed in the world
• Able to communicate in
Japanese and measure
distances and directions to
objects using external
receptors, artificial ears and
eyes, and an artificial mouth
8. Further Development
• 1985 - Hitachi’s WHL-11 (walking 13
s/step)
• 1986-1991 - Honda’s E series
• 1989 - Pacific Northwest Laboratories’s
Manny (42 degrees of freedom)
• Present day: Honda, Hitachi, Military
intuitions, NASA compete with designs
9. Why the popularity?
• Looks and feels more “Human”
• Easier for integration in applied role
• Can perform some tasks better
• Good in science fiction (especially Eastern
Anime)
• Looks cool
11. Disadvantages
• It hard to implement
• It little-bit complex with every function
• Terrible at performing tasks suitable for
wheels (landscape or high speeds)
• Technology (gyros, advanced servo
designs)
• Not trustworthy
12. ASIMO - Honda’s heavy hitter
• $1million a unit
• Can go up stairs
• Run 6km/h
• Carry 1kg
• 51.8v Lithium-ion
30 mins endurance
13. HRP-4C
• Sings and Dances
• Androidish/ Gynoid
• Demonstrates human
Movement/speech
14. NASA and General Motors Robonaut
2
• Intended for space
• Designed to work
side by side with people
• Can carry 15kg
• Wheel chair design
/mounted platforms
15. Where’s the limit?
• Large advancements in both interest and
technology
• Competitions between large corporations
• Can do many tasks that were once near
impossible to implement (play soccer?)
• Still a ways off from popular sci-fi films
like Terminator or I Robot
16. Latest version
• Honda's new
Asimo robot can
run, jump and sign
• It change its
actions depending
on what happens
around it
17. The future
• ASIMO may serve as another set of eyes,
ears, hands and legs for all kinds of people
in need. Someday ASIMO might help with
important tasks like assisting the elderly
or a person confined to a bed or a
wheelchair. ASIMO might also perform
certain tasks that are dangerous to
humans, such as fighting fires or cleaning
up toxic spills.
