43°F
weather icon Partly Cloudy

Japan conversation robot ready for outer space

TOKYO — The world’s first space conversation experiment between a robot and humans is ready to be launched.

Developers from the Kirobo project, named after “kibo” or hope in Japanese and “robot,” gathered in Tokyo Wednesday to demonstrate the humanoid robot’s ability to talk.

“Russia was the first to go outer space, the U.S. was the first to go to the moon, we want Japan to be the first to send a robot-astronaut to space that can communicate with humans,” said Yorichika Nishijima, the Kirobo project manager.

The experiment is a collaboration between advertising and PR company Dentsu Inc., the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, the University of Tokyo, Robo Garage and Toyota Motor Corp.

Tomotaka Takahashi, CEO of Robo Garage Co. and associate professor at the University of Tokyo, said he hopes robots like Kirobo that hold conversations will eventually be used to assist astronauts working in space.

“When people think of robots in outer space, they tend to seek ones that do things physically,” said Takahashi. “But I think there is something that could come from focusing on humanoid robots that focus on communication.”

Because Kirobo does not need to perform physical activities, it is smaller than most robots that go into space. Kirobo is about 34 centimeters tall (13 inches) and weighs about 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds).

Its land-based counterpart Mirata looks almost identical but is not designed to go into outer space. Instead, it has the ability to learn through the conversations it has.

During the demonstration, Fuminori Kataoka, project general manager from Toyota, asked Kirobo what its dream was.

“I want to create a future where humans and robots can live together and get along,” it answered.

Kirobo is scheduled to be launched from the Tanegashima Space Center on August 4, 2013.

Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook.
MORE STORIES
THE LATEST
How 1M people could receive up to $1,400 from IRS

Approximately 1 million taxpayers will automatically receive special payments of up to $1,400 from the IRS in the coming weeks. The money will be directly deposited into eligible people’s bank accounts or sent in the mail by a paper check.

A rocket from Yemen strikes Tel Aviv, injuring 16

A rocket fired from Yemen hit an area of Tel Aviv overnight, leaving 16 people injured by shattered glass, the Israeli military said Saturday.

U.S. envoys visit Syria after Assad overthrow

Details of the meetings were not immediately available and a news conference the officials had planned was canceled due to unspecified security concerns.

Tesla recalling almost 700K vehicles

Tesla has been dealing with recalls throughout the year. Its Cybertruck is now up to its seventh recall of the year, with one last month that involved around 2,400 vehicles.

Trump/Musk ‘laughable’ budget plan fails in House vote

“We’re going to regroup and we will come up with another solution, so stay tuned,” House Speaker Mike Johnson said after the vote. The cobbled-together plan didn’t even get a majority, with the bill failing 174-235.

Luigi Mangione faces new charges, could face death penalty

The suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO was whisked back to New York on a plane and by helicopter Thursday to face new federal charges of stalking and murder, which could bring the death penalty if he’s convicted.