I. Definition of Actroids

Actroid is a type of android (humanoid robot) and with strong visual

human-likeness developed by Osaka University and manufactured by

Kokoro Company Ltd. (the animatronics division of Sanrio). It was first

unveiled at the 2003 International Robot Exhibition in Tokyo, Japan.

Several different versions of the product have been produced since then.

In most cases, the robot's appearance has been modelled after an

average young woman of Japanese descent.

The Actroid woman is a pioneer example of a real machine similar

to imagined machines called by the science

fiction terms android or gynoid, so far used only for fictional robots. It can

mimic such lifelike functions as blinking, speaking, and breathing. The

"Repliee" models are interactive robots with the ability to recognize and

process speech and respond in kind.

Actroid is one of the best Robot that showcased how Robotics can

effectively mimic humans, as they have evolved the tech over last decade.

Their current iteration of Actroid is better known as Actroid-F, looks like a 

humanoid robot that can mock the operator’s facial expressions and head

movements with accuracy seen never before.

II. Actroid Timeline

Date Development

2003 November

Actroid is unveiled at the International Robot Exhibition.

2004 JanuaryModel "Actroid ReplieeQ1" developed at Osaka University.

2004 December

"Actroid ReplieeQ1-expo" developed for Expo 2005 in Aichi.

2005 March"Actroid-expo" models shown at the 2005 Expo; three at help booths, another on stage as an emcee.

2005 June"Actroid-DER" (Dramatic Entertainment Robot) rental-only model introduced.

2005 JulyIshiguro research team develops the "Actroid ReplieeQ2" at Osaka University.

2006 JulyGeminoid HI-1 produced in the image of Hiroshi Ishiguro.

2006 October "Actroid-DER2" units available.

2008 October Release of the "Actroid-DER3" units.

2009 Release of the "Actroid Sara"

III. Actroid Robot are classified to Service Robots

Service Robots: The Japanese are in the forefront in these types of

robots. Essentially, this category comprises of any robot that is used

outside an industrial facility, although they can be sub-divided into two

main types of robots: one, robots used for professional jobs, and the

second, robots used for personal use. Amongst the former type are the

above mentioned robots used for military use, and then there are robots

that are used for underwater jobs, or robots used for cleaning hazardous

waste, and the like.

Personal use robots are becoming more and more popular, with increased

sophistication in Artificial Intelligence and with them becoming increasingly

affordable, and are being seen in areas like caregiving, pet robots, house

cleaning and entertainment. Although it is more expensive and difficult to

make highly intelligent and sensitive machines, but service robots

designed with minimal intelligence are already fairly common, such as the

vacuum cleaning robots.

The creation of the amazing walking humanoid named Asimo gave the

impetus for several others, such as the house-helping robot named

Wakamaru, and Aibo, the robot dog. Then there are the popular robocon

competitions held in Japan, with robots playing soccer or having fighting

matches.

Another area where personal use robots are being introduced is in the

care for the elderly. In countries where there are increasing numbers of

the aged with comparatively fewer numbers of young people to provide

them with care, due to low birth rate and increased longevity, such as is

the case in Japan and a growing number of Western countries, robots are

increasingly thought to be the answer. These robots are being designed to

provide physical services such as carrying bedridden elderly people (or

even the handicapped), or washing for them, and doing various other day-

to-day tasks. And then there are robots being designed to provide mental

services, such as offering the therapeutic effect of interacting with the

often lonely elderly people. 

Most commonly industrial robots are fixed robotic arms and manipulators

used primarily for production and distribution of goods. The term "service

robot" is less well-defined. IFR has proposed a tentative definition, "A

service robot is a robot which operates semi- or fully- autonomously to

perform services useful to the well-being of humans and equipment,

excluding manufacturing operations."

In South Africa robot is an informal and commonly used term for a set of

traffic lights.

A service robot is a robot that is capable of providing services

to its owner. These robots generally are autonomous but can be

controlled, either remotely or manually, by built-in systems. They also

might be synced up with WiFi home networks or smart environments.

Service robots can differ in specific functions, but their jobs usually can be

described as helping humans perform tasks that are dangerous, difficult,

dirty, repetitive or distant. A service robot can ease the workload of a

human being in this way, especially if the task is frequent, such as with

home chores. They also can be used in medicine, space, agriculture, fire

fighting, hotels and entertainment and to perform industrial tasks. Service

robots are particularly useful in the automotive industry, where heavy

lifting and fine calibrations are required to build a vehicle.

IV. Technology

Internal sensors allow Actroid models to react with a natural

appearance by way of air actuators placed at many points of articulation in

the upper body. Early models had 42 points of articulation, later models

have 47. So far, movement in the lower body is limited. The operation of

the robot's sensory system in tandem with its air powered movements

make it quick enough to react to or fend off intrusive motions, such as a

slap or a poke. Artificial intelligence gives it the ability to react differently to

more gentle kinds of touch, such as a pat on the arm.

The Actroid can also imitate human-like behavior with slight shifts in

position, head and eye movements and the appearance of breathing in its

chest. Additionally, the robot can be "taught" to imitate human movements

by facing a person who is wearing reflective dots at key points on their

body. By tracking the dots with its visual system and computing limb and

joint movements to match what it sees, this motion can then be "learned"

by the robot and repeated.

The skin is composed of silicone and appears highly realistic. The

compressed air that powers the robot's servo motors, and most of the

computer hardware that operates the A.I., are external to the unit. This is a

contributing factor to the robot's lack of locomotion capabilities. When

displayed, the Actroid has always been either seated or standing with firm

support from behind.

The interactive Actroids can also communicate on a rudimentary

level with humans by speaking. Microphones within those Actroids record

the speech of a human, and this sound is then filtered to remove

background noise - including the sounds of the robot's own operation.

Speech recognition software is then used to convert the audio stream into

words and sentences, which can then be processed by the Actroid's A.I. A

verbal response is then given through speakers external to the unit.

Further interactivity is achieved through non-verbal methods. When

addressed, the interactive Actroids use a combination of "floor sensors

and omnidirectional vision sensors" in order to maintain eye contact with

the speaker. In addition, the robots can respond in limited ways to body

language and tone of voice by changing their own facial expressions,

stance and vocal inflection.

V. Benefits of Industrial/ Service Robot

Robots offer specific benefits to workers, industries and countries. If

introduced correctly, industrial robots can improve the quality of life by

freeing workers from dirty, boring, dangerous and heavy labor. It is true

that robots can cause unemployment by replacing human workers but

robots also create jobs: robot technicians, salesmen, engineers,

programmers and supervisors.

The benefits of robots to industry include improved management control

and productivity and consistently high quality products. Industrial robots

can work tirelessly night and day on an assembly line without a loss in

performance.

Consequently, they can greatly reduce the costs of manufactured goods.

As a result of these industrial benefits, countries that effectively use robots

in their industries will have an economic advantage on world market.

VI. Examples of Actroid Robots

A. The Actroid was the robot that left visitors breathless. Amazingly lifelike,

this office robot has been designed as an android "bearing a striking

resemblance to a woman," with a command of four languages. (Its

technical rationale is to promote the joint venture's ongoing work to fulfill

the objectives of the "System Development Toward Practical Use"

guidelines of the NEDO 2004 Next-Generation Robot Commercialization

Project.)

The Actroid speaks Chinese, English, Japanese, and Korean. It can

interactively converse with visitors on various subjects, including

information about the exhibition, in a synthetic but realistic voice. It's

amazing appearance is so perfectly analogous to humans that, I believe,

most people would not notice the difference between this robot and a

human from a distance of 20 to 30 meters. It is capable of controlling its

motions expressively within the context of a conversation just as a human

being does--with facial expressions, lip movements, and behavior. The

face of the Actroid has 42 degrees of freedom. The robot is static,

however; it can not move.

Developed by Professor Hiroshi Ishiguro of Osaka University,

Repliee Q1 looks extremely human and has sensors and motors which

are embedded allow her to move and behave in a very human-like

manner.  A computer was used to analyze the movements of humans in

order to create a template for repliee q1. 

B. Actroid-F, this is the “world’s first true Android”, called the Actroid-F. She’s

(I’m sorry, it’s) designed to be used in hospitals and other locations

involving natural human-to-human communication, and can move its eyes,

open and close its mouth, tilt its head, nod, smile, replicate breathing, and

bow; and is 1.4 meters tall when seated. She made an appearance at a

two-day laboratory fair at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial

Science and Technology (AIST), where a teleoperating station equipped

with a camera was showcased, enable the android to replicate the head

and facial movements of the operator, as well as following manually-

inputted commands. The Actroid-F Characterized by expressive engine,

and one that can reproduce such a laugh and toothy smile, naturally.

She can easily trace the movement based upon facial image recognition,

which includes gestures like such as nodding or shaking head.

C. Actroid DER2 is an upgraded version of Kokoro's previous fembot, Actroid

DER, who has made quite a name for herself by providing services at a

number of events, including the 2005 World Expo. Compared to the

previous model, DER2 has thinner arms and a wider repertoire of

expressions. The smoothness of her movement has also been improved,

making it now even more likely for the uninitiated to confuse her with an

actual human being.

Actroid's limbs, torso and facial expressions are controlled by a

system of actuators powered by pneumatic pressure. Once programmed,

she is able to choreograph her motions and gestures with her voice.

Kokoro intends to rent Actroid DER2 to companies and events. The

basic rental fee is expected to be 400,000 yen (US$3,500) for 5 days, plus

extra fees for technical support, delivery and choreography changes. For

those who can't cope with a sayonara after 5 days, there is a late fee of

80,000 yen per day.

VII. References

Actroid. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved July 15, 2011, from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actroid

MacDorman, Karl F.; Ishiguro, Hiroshi (2006). "The uncanny advantage of using

androids in social and cognitive science research" (pdf). Interaction Studies 7 (3):

297–337.ISSN 1572–0373. Retrieved 2008-05-25.

Jacquemin, Christophe (2005-08-22). "'Repliee', ou l'inexorable marche vers le

robot androïde?" (in French). Le Monde. Retrieved 2008-05-25. (Google

translation)

Christensen, Bill (2005-06-28). "New robot looks strikingly human". LiveScience.

Retrieved 2008-05-25.

Whitehouse, David (2005-07-12). "Japanese develop 'female' android". BBC

News. Retrieved 2008-05-25.

Schaub, Ben (2006-10-12). "Meet my android twin". New Scientist. Retrieved

2008-05-25.

Hornyak, Tim (2006-07-20). "Meet the remote-control self". Wired. Retrieved

2008-05-25.

INTRODUCTION

As cited to thinkquest.org Artificial Intelligence (AI) is defined as the area

of computer science focusing on creating machines that can engage on

behaviors that humans consider intelligent. The ability to create intelligent

machines has intrigued humans since ancient times and today with the advent of

the computer and 50 years of research into AI programming techniques, the

dream of smart machines is becoming a reality. Researchers are creating

systems which can mimic human thought, understand speech, beat the best

human chess player, and countless other feats never before possible. Find out

how the military is applying AI logic to its hi-tech systems, and how in the near

future Artificial Intelligence may impact our lives.

Nowadays, artificial intelligence is very broad, but the commonly known AI

projects are the AI robots which are having different classifications. In this

chapter the authors will discuss about the service robots, on how they are useful

to humans. There are different types of service robots, and to be specific in the

topic they will discuss about the actroid robots.

Actroid robot is a kind of service robot that was created like a human and

act like a human. In this topic they will discuss examples of actroid robots with

their different characteristics and the benefits of it in different fields.

OUTLINE

Introduction

I. Definition of Actroids

II. Actroid Timeline

III. Actroid Robot are classified to Service Robots

IV. Technology

V. Benefits of Industrial/ Service Robot

VI. Examples of Actroid Robots

A. Repliee q1

B. Actroid-F

C. Actroid DER2

VII. References

A Written Report Presented to:

Ms. Nonie Perido

Actroid Robots

By:

Joyce Naomie Gracia M. Aseo

Sheila Mae N. Lizardo

Joven R. Ramos

BSCS-IV

Artificial Intelligence

Actroid Robots