Japanese scientists create robot toddler

Japanese scientists create robot toddler

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Story Published: Jun 8, 2007 at 8:54 AM PDT

Story Updated: Jun 8, 2007 at 9:21 AM PDT

By Associated Press

OSAKA, Japan (AP) - A group of scientists in Japan have developed a robot that acts like a toddler to better understand child development.

The Child-Robot with Biomimetic Body, or CB2, was developed by a team of researchers at Osaka University in western Japan and is designed to move just like a real child between 1 and 3 years old.

CB2, at just over 4 feet tall and weighing 73 pounds, changes facial expressions and can rock back and forth.

The robot's movements are smooth as it is fitted with 56 actuators in lieu of muscle. It has 197 sensors for touch, small cameras working as eyes, and an audio sensor. CB2 can also speak using an artificial vocal cord.

When it stands up supported by a person, the robot wobbles like a child who is learning how to walk.

Minoru Asada, a professor at Osaka University who leads the project for the Japan Science and Technology Agency said the robot was developed to learn more about child development.

"Our goal is to study human recognition development such as how the child learns a language, recognizes objects and learns to communicate with his father and mother," he said.

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