Kirobo, the first talking humanoid robot, arrived at the International Space Station on August 9, 2013 after blasting off to space 6 days ago from Tanegashima, in south-western Japan. The robot is equipped with voice and facial-recognition technology and will serve as a companion for Koichi Wakata, the first Japanese to take the role of commander of the ISS later this year.
The robot is 34 centimeters long and weighs 1 kilogram and is designed to work in zero gravity. It can process natural language and facial expressions allowing it to make conversations that are more natural. It already “knows” Wakata and is expected to show emotion when he arrives at the ISS.
The aging population in Japan means more and more of its citizens are living solitary lives. Robots that can interact and show emotion like Kirobo may be of use in the future to assist people who are isolated for long periods.
Kirobo Designed by Tomotaka Takahashi of the University of Tokyo’s Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology (RCAST), Robo Garage of Kyoto University, and ad firm Dentsu.
Read more: http://www.digitaltrends.com/international/kirobo-worlds-first-talking-robot-astronaut-heads-for-iss/#ixzz2bYkn8qb2
http://rt.com/news/japanese-talking-robot-space-station-314/