Japan's Robear: Strength of a robot, face of a bear

Ron Czapala

http://news.yahoo.com/japans-robear-strength-robot-face-bear-065302596.html

The "Robear" has a cub-like face with big doey eyes, but packs enough power to transfer frail patients from a wheelchair to a bed or a bath, Japan's Riken institute said Tuesday.

"The polar cub-like look is aimed at radiating an atmosphere of strength, geniality and cleanliness at the same time," research leader Toshiharu Mukai told AFP

Tor

The researchers should do some more research on what a friendly robot face should look like..

-Tor

erco

Vecna's BEAR came first: http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2012/03/29/teddy-bear-faced-robot-is-built-for-battlefields/

Although RoboPanda predated them both http://www.wowwee.com/en/products/toys/robots/robotics/robocreatures/robopanda

prof_braino

Tor wrote: »

The researchers should do some more research on what a friendly robot face should look like..

-Tor

Japanese are obsessed with cute. That face follows the "big eyes small mouth" formula, and is pretty much their standard cute bear face. Its probably sufficient for the locals.

Tor

As I'm currently quite local (not too far away from that institute in fact) I'll do some local research (i.e. show people the Youtube video.. also to someone who works in a place where the researchers imagines those robots to be used).
But there is cute and cute.. to me that robot face doesn't get the formula right.

-Tor

mklrobo

Great Idea! That will be great in Hospitals, but may be expensive.

LoopyByteloose

Something does seem amiss with those eyes.. too far apart and vertically taller than than the width.

Japanese tend to know their cuteness. This bear is a bit odd.