Ground-breaking Robotic Pet Kobie the Koala Bear
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Australia’s koala bear has been selected as a role model for a new fluffy robotic pet designed and created by the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) in South Korea “for its laziness.”
Photo AFP/ ETRI-HO
Kobie can react to touch, voice, and can even recognize human faces. Makers say Kobie is by far the most advanced robotic pet made in Korea and will pave the way for more intelligent, sociable and more affordable robotic companions for humans.
“When you slap Kobie once, he acts as if he is surprised. But when you keep hitting him, be begins to show that he is scared.” said senior researcher Sohn Joo-Chan. When you poke the robotic koala, he rolls over and grumpily stares into your face until he recognizes you.
“He can calculate whether you like him or not.”
Hidden within Kobie’s furry frame are sensors to detect touch, light, sounds and posture that transmit signals wirelessly to a server such as a personal computer. The server analyzes the signals and sends suitable orders back to Kobie. By placing Kobie’s brain apart from its body, it became lighter, more energy-efficient, and cheaper to produce.
The koala can express 7 different emotions such as surprise, happiness, and sorrow, and relevant movement with eye contacts.
Photo Korea Times
When asked why ETRI selected a koala bear for its role model above all other animals, Sohn replied, “Koalas are known as lazy and slow animals that sleep a lot.”
“If you choose a dog robot, people will expect it to act like a dog. But the motors are not good enough for that.” The cuddly marsupial was designed especially for the elderly and mentally disabled for emotional and psychological comfort, so KOBIE’s lack of quick motor skills will not be as readily noticed.
Photo Akihabara News
Kobie can be produced for about one million won ($1,104 dollars) compared to at least three million for robot pets with built-in brains, but the makers do not have current plans for mass production.
Several other robotic pets have been introduced in Korea, but most are in elementary stages. Kobie’s closest competitor is baby dinosaur Pleo, manufactured by the American toy company Ugobe, complete with 38 sensors, and responds to human touch with spontaneous and fluid actions. It’s scheduled to hit the market before Christmas in the US for about the $350.
Kobie the Robotic Koala Bear
Sources: Akihabara News and Korea Times
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This is hilarious, yet so interesting! I guess it is a good follow-up to, what were those other virtual pet game things called, Fergies?
I’m not surprised that they are using our cute and cuddly koala Deborah…
I think I prefer the real live model though
At that price I wouldn’t have plans for mass production either. Come on, it is cute, and advanced, but it is just a toy (yes, yes, I do love toys!) and even the mentally disabled still need a human companion… if you know what I mean.
It’s a great experiment, probably groundbreaking for other inventions. So I wouldn’t call it a waste…
almost as good as a furby! lol
xx
hb~
Fergies is a new one on me Cory, but there have been a number of them.
I’ll take the real McCoy any day Kim
Well once into mass-production Mig, costs per item decrease significantly. But it wouldn’t surprise me that they would still be into the hundreds, just as the Pleo is.
A Furby Harleyblues? Another new one on me
I still love my pet rock. (Remember those?)
Actually, I think I am talking about a Furby, not a Fergie – you don’t remember those toys that you had to feed or they died? They were also programmed to go crazy if they were not attended to and they spoke Furbish – it was crazy, and everyone out here had one … it was like a cross between a stuffed animal and a Sims video game …
OMG are you serious! I absolutely adore Koala Bears… They’re amazing. I used to think the one from Noah’s Island (the cartoon) was really cute lol *ehem* sorry =p. This is awesome though, i really want one :]!
Haha, yes, I remember the Pet Rock, Nitropuppy
No Cory, I haven’t heard of the Furby, but I haven’t raised any children, and probably why I missed out on them
Sounds like they were a lot of fun for a kid. I vaguely remember something about ‘virtual pets’ online some years ago with demands like that.
The closest I’ve come is a stuffed toy my father gave me as an adult which I still have, Marty
You may be in for a long wait for this one, considering that they aren’t going to be mass-produced. But then, who knows, if they begin to receive large demand, that could change.
This is one of the most bizarre things I have ever seen. I’m all into online games and all, but how is this different from, oh, I don’t know, maybe a dog? A real one? This is definitely a geek-thing!
I’ll take a live dog any day over one of these toys myself Andreas. But for the elderly and mentally challenged, I think they’re an excellent gadget.