Sony Corporation has redefine the word “entertainment” with QRIO, abbreviation for “Quest for cuRIOsity”, a bipedal humanoid entertainment robot following its discontinuation of AIBO (left).
QRIO has recently appeared on the pitch of the RFK Stadium for
the Nationals-Mets game, throwing out the first pitch of the game (right).
The two-foot-tall humanoid can do better than that. QRIO was built to provide entertainment and I doubt many can do better. With Sony’s technology, QRIO is able to negotiate uneven surfaces, dance, recognize faces and voices and even carry out conversations.
Its fluid motion is achieved by the Intelligent Servo Actuator (ISA), a drive system for the robot’s joints and limbs that involves motors, gears, a computer and a multitude of sensors.
As if all these are not enough for entertainment, QRIO is designed to understand spoken words and learn new words other than the tens of thousands of words it knows already. Analysis of the words using voice recognition technology allows it to respond in its own words. As the time goes by, conversation with QRIO will get more and more interesting.
Did I forget something? QRIO has the ability to sing in vibrato! This is definitely something you would expect from Sony, who places great emphasis on the entertainment value. Do keep a lookup for more news on QRIO~!
Reference:
http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/QRIO/top_nf.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/06/AR2005070602103.html
U036418N Tan Chee Boon
Sony Corporation has redefine the word “entertainment” with QRIO, abbreviation for “Quest for cuRIOsity”, a bipedal humanoid entertainment robot following its discontinuation of AIBO (left).
QRIO has recently appeared on the pitch of the RFK Stadium for 
the Nationals-Mets game, throwing out the first pitch of the game (right).
The two-foot-tall humanoid can do better than that. QRIO was built to provide entertainment and I doubt many can do better. With Sony’s technology, QRIO is able to negotiate uneven surfaces, dance, recognize faces and voices and even carry out conversations.
Its fluid motion is achieved by the Intelligent Servo Actuator (ISA), a drive system for the robot’s joints and limbs that involves motors, gears, a computer and a multitude of sensors.
As if all these are not enough for entertainment, QRIO is designed to understand spoken words and learn new words other than the tens of thousands of words it knows already. Analysis of the words using voice recognition technology allows it to respond in its own words. As the time goes by, conversation with QRIO will get more and more interesting.
Did I forget something? QRIO has the ability to sing in vibrato! This is definitely something you would expect from Sony, who places great emphasis on the entertainment value. Do keep a lookup for more news on QRIO~!
Reference: http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/QRIO/top_nf.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/06/AR2005070602103.html
U036418N Tan Chee Boon
13 comments:
Jaseema Banu U036882L
one cannot doubt QRIO's intelligence in performing such a myriad of tasks such as dance, converse and sing. i feel that this robot has the closest imitation to humans, especially with its use of body language to convey his emotions. QRIO is sure all out to replace dogs as Man's companion with its various capabilities.
Thng Kang Liang U036278W
With QRIO's intelligience and capabilities, it will definitely be highly sought after by kids as playmates. Being able to converse makes it an even better companion.
No matter how well a robot mimics human actions and words, it can never contain the creativity and emotions of humans. QRIO may be highly intelligent , and could even interact with humans, its ambition to be an ideal human companion may be far from being idealised.
Tan Sze Sze Vivian U037841J
Wu Ronghua U036423A
In terms of entertainment, I believe QRIO will be a robot that can entertain well. Since it can sing, dance and even response to individual. Compared to humans whom you can't control them, you can definitely shut down QRIO when you find it too noisy.
Comment from Jin Yunye U037842W
To Vivian, I think the problem of whether robots can have creativity and emotion cannot be so easily answered. What if the technology is so advanced in future that we understands exactly how human brain and other parts works and we are able to build a robotic system working with exactly the same mechanisms and having the same level of sophistication. When such a thing "thinks", it go through the same procedure as things happened in a real human brain. Could we say such a thing cannot be creative or emotional? I cannot find a clear answer.
As in the aspect of entertainment. I cannot totally agree with Ronghua. When we see performance, don't we also enjoy the freedom in expression and creativity of the performer? Although, I personally think we cannot eliminate the possibility for a robot performer to have these abilities. Currently ORIO is still no compare to human performer in these aspects.
I remember Dr.Prahlad mentioned Honda Asimo in lecture. I wonder how is it compared to QRIO. Thanks
Although this robot can dance, converse and sing, it still lacks the agility, the expressions human possesses which are essential in dancing and singing. I am sure most people wont pay to just watch a robot dance and sings as it is just too mechanical and the robot cannot respond to the atmosphere and audience's feelings.
Choo Teck Kwang Adrian U036224U
Sometimes I wonder when robots "learn" new words, what does "learning" actually entails. Does it actually understand the use of these words, or does it just starts to mimic the word patterns of the people it converses with.
This is an interesting experiment. Especially interesting since why do people want to make robots that imitate human beings. The technology used in navigating is interesting, but I am more interested the complexity and self evolution (if there is) of the intelligence. Or is it a mere doll that has some fancy tricks up it's sleeve.
I'm waiting for the day I can say "I for one welcome our QRIO overlords" LOL.
Oops, forgot to add my name to the above post. Posted by Chua Chong Han U045816M
Correct me if I am wrong, but what I know is that Sony has pull out of research into robotics, hence there won't be any further research and development in QRIO.
Ng Buck Sin U046233B
Sony never fails to amaze me. This robot has so much technology squeezed into its 2 foot frame and yet it does not look clumsy. However, its learning capability is probably what makes it more human than anything else
Ranjan
u036030X
yep as stated earlier by buck sin, sony has discontinued work on qrio and no more research will be taking place on this humanoid. However, honda is still making rapid growth in their counterpart ASIMO which has off-late become more of a public celebrity in japan.
sorry forgot my name in the last post.
-Nitin Batra U048708Y
QRIO's design is cool. It's smooth movement and cute image really attract lots of attention. The only robot that is comparable to it I think is the Honda Asimo. I believe with more advancement in artificial intelligence the robot will become truly interactive one day.
Wu Zhenyu
U036584N
Post a Comment