Last week, America celebrated the legalisation of gay marriage following the Supreme Court ruling recognising same-sex unions. Meanwhile in Japan, other celebrations of a very different kind were going on– Japan’s first ever robot wedding! Yes, that’s right, two Japanese robots said I do and tied the knot.

Here’s a photo of the happy couple.

“But wait a minute, I only see one robot!” you’re probably thinking. This wasn’t a robot and human getting married, though, but indeed two robots getting hitched. Frois, the groom, is the clunky ’80s-looking robot complete with black bow tie, whereas the rather human-looking bride whose name is Yukirin, is in fact, also a robot. She is an android version of Yuki Kashiwagi, a singer from idol group AKB48.

The matrimonial ceremony was everything you would expect from a robot wedding. The bride was wheeled down the aisle (as was the groom for that matter), there was cake, more robots, entertainment, a buffet, and the marriage was even sealed with a kiss (albeit assisted by a human).

The artistic unit behind, what is believed to be, the world’s first robot wedding is Maywa Denki, two brothers who are described as “parallel-world electricians” on their website. They are an electronics outfit who make eclectic and nonsensical toys, musical instruments and other inventions including Frois the groom, in addition to being wedding planners for robots.

Attendance was limited to those who were lucky enough to score tickets to this once-only event (assuming the marriage lasts and there’s no need for Frois and Yukirin to have a second wedding in the future).

Unfortunately for these two robots, their marriage wasn’t legally binding. Not surprisingly, you’re going to need to be human to get legally married in Japan.

To Frois and Yukirin, may they have a long and prosperous marriage, until short circuit do they part.

Source: RT h/t Kotaku US
Top image: YouTube/RT
Insert images: YouTube/RT

Origin: A.I. say I do: Japan’s first ever robot wedding?!
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

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• Japan Rail searching for couple to get married on Yamanote Line train
• The little test that’s blowing Japanese netizens’ minds

Like a lot of people, up until a few days ago I’d never heard of MegaBots, despite the fact that the California-based company has apparently created a pretty amazing (and armed) giant robot. That all changed, though, when the designers of the MegaBot Mark II released a video challenging Japan’s Suidobashi Heavy Industry, the makers of the Kuratas robot, to a duel.

It definitely got MegaBots plenty of attention, and now it’s gone beyond just a cagey PR move. Suidobashi has accepted the challenge, and is spitting back some fighting words of its own.

When I first watched MegaBots’ video, I had mixed emotions. On the one hand, I’ve been a fan of the idea of giant robots fighting each other since the first time I saw a cartoon based on that scenario, something that happened so long ago I can’t remember if the credit should go to Grendizer or The Transformers.

But while the Kuratas can be equipped with weapons, Suidobashi’s videos of it engaging in target-shooting feel more like mechanized archery than vicious combat. Something about the aggressively competitive way MegaBots had to go turning the two companies’ engineering achievements into a contest seemed like a reflection of the most tired stereotypes of brash American bravado, and I felt a little sorry that Suidobashi suddenly had someone picking a fight.

But after watching Suidobashi’s response to MegaBots’ challenge, I can see such sympathy was completely unnecessary.

If you’ve ever wondered where the Kuratas gets its name from, look no further than Suidobashi’s founder and CEO, Kogoro Kurata, who’s as brimming with confidence as you’d expect of a man who builds a giant robot, then names it after himself.

▼ Kurata, wrapped in a Japanese flag emblazoned with the kanji for “hydraulics”

Kurata isn’t standing in awe of the awesome MegaBot Mark II. As a matter of fact, he’s got a few bones to pick with its design themes and overall aesthetics, as the video, released by Suidobashi itself, has him saying the following in regards to the MegaBots challenge:

“It really came out of nowhere, so…It’s interesting, I’ll give them that. But my reaction? Come on guys, make it cooler.

Just building something huge and sticking guns on it. It’s…Super American.

We can’t let another country win this. Giant robots are Japanese culture.

Yeah, I’ll fight. Absolutely.

Absolutely.

ABSOLUTELY.”

▼ Despite his dismissive remarks about large-caliber weaponry, Kurata unleashes perhaps the biggest gun in Japan’s debate arsenal, as claiming that something is “Japanese culture” is often the ultimate way to shut down an argument in Japan.

Don’t think that Kurata’s honor is going to be satisfied by strapping a few paintball cannons onto his robotic brainchild and redecorating its American rival in the color of his choosing, either. Later in the video, he goes on to say:

“But you know, we really need…melee combat. If we’re gonna win this, I want to punch them to scrap and knock them down to do it.”

▼ If big guns are “Super American,” is crushing metal with your hands Super Japanese?

And just to make sure he’s understood, the video closes with the message:

“We accept. MegaBots: Organize the duel. We’ll be there.”

An exciting setup, but oddly enough, MegaBots also ended its video by telling Suidobashi “Prepare yourselves and name the battlefield.” So with both sides pointing the finger at each other regarding where the fight will happen, I’ve decided to step in and offer RocketNews24’s three proposed sites for this historic event.

1. Odaiba, Tokyo, Japan

Like ancient gladiators battling before Caesar, so too should the Kuratas and MegaBot Mark II pay their respects by fighting under the gaze their kind’s most exalted figure, Gundam.

2. Grand Canyon, Arizona, U.S.A.

Giant robots, giant canyon. Makes sense to us.

3. Smart Araneta Coliseum, Manila, Philippines

Given the distance between Japan and the U.S., though, it’s inevitable that holding the fight in either of those two nations will bestow an immense advantage upon the host. Because of that, really the only fair thing to do is to have the Kuratas and MegaBot Mark II meet at a neutral site somewhere between their home countries, and I nominate the Smart Araneta Coliseum in the Philippines.

Not only does its name contain the appropriately bellicose “Coliseum,” if the venue was good for Mohammad Ali and Joe Frazier’s Thrilla in Manilla, it’s good enough for this robotic rumble between Suidobashi and MegaBots.

▼ Loser buys the lumpia

Source: Engadget
Top image: YouTube/Suidobashi Heavy Industry
Insert images; YouTube/Suidobashi Heavy Industry, Tokyo Navi, Wikipedia/Tuxyso, Smart Araneta Coliseum, Mukpin

Origin: Giant robot fight is on! Suidobashi accepts Americans’ challenge, wants to “punch them to scrap”
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

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• Giant robot fight coming soon? American inventors’ video challenges Japanese counterparts to duel
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• $1.25 Million Giant Robot On Sale Now, Over 3,000 Orders Accepted From Around the World
• KURATAS, Japan’s $1.25 Million Dollar Dream Come True, is Selling Like Giant Robot Hotcakes

Now that we’re living in the age of giant fighting robots, it’s time to update the list of things a fully capable member of society needs to be able to do. And while many anime make piloting a huge mecha as simple as falling into the cockpit and learning as you go, it’d be irresponsible to assume things are so easy in the real world.

That’s why we sent one of our reporters to check out a 15,000-kilogram (33,000-pound) giant robot that’s on display in Tokyo right now. Not only is it awesome to look at, its creators will even let you take it for a virtual test drive.

We sent our Japanese-language correspondent Mr. Sato out to Odaiba, the man-made island on Tokyo Bay where you’ll also find the life-size statue of Gundam. From now until August 31, the Odaiba Yume Tairiku Dream Mega Natsu Matsuri (which translates out to “Odaiba Dream Continent Dream Mega Summer Festival,” because you can never have too many dreams, right?) is being held on the grounds of the Fuji TV headquarters. In addition to musical and comedy performances, plus exhibits and events related to the broadcaster’s most popular programs, there’s also a display booth being run by Taguchi Industrial Co., Ltd.

Don’t let Taguchi’s button-down name fool you. While industrial machinery is the Okayama Prefecture-based company’s bread and butter, it’s spicy fried chicken is the massive Super Guzzilla robot, which stands four meters (13.1 feet) tall and measures seven meters long.

The Super Guzzilla, which far outweighs Suidobashi Heavy Industry’s 4,000-kilogram Kuratas robot, starts life as a Hitachi Construction Machinery wheel loader, the kind of vehicle you see running around at construction sites with a large scoop in front of it to push and carry earth and debris. Taguchi then adds custom steel bodywork, plus a pair of its Guzzilla scissor-handed appendages, which can be configured to cut, crush, or pulverize, according to the company’s website.

But as intimidating as those functions all sound, the Super Guzzilla apparently has a soft side, too, as it shows in this video where it dances to idol unit AKB48’s “Heavy Rotation.”

▼ Jump to 2:15 for where the music starts

But as impressive as the Super Guzzilla is to look at, Mr. Sato didn’t come all this way just to gawk in awe at it. He came to learn how to be a real-life mecha jock, so into the cockpit he climbed.

▼ Mr. Sato, ready to save the world, or ruin it trying.

However, Taguchi seems to have realized that giving the public access to a 15-metric-ton robot with pulverizing hands would be dangerous, as several of them would immediately use it to crush their cheating ex’s house/set up their own independent state as a haven for nationless soldiers of fortune/chase down their coworkers who’re so smug about their Mad Max motor scooters.

▼ “That stinkin’ Go Hattori thinks he’s so cool!”

So while the Taguchi staff will teach you how to pilot the Super Guzzilla, the controls on the display model can’t actually move the machine’s arms and wheels. Instead, they’re connected to an Oculus Rift virtual piloting program.

Still, Mr. Sato describes the VR experience as incredibly realistic, as the seat moves in conjunction with what’s happening in the simulation projected by the head-mounted display. He says the experience is sure to delight anyone who’s ever dreamed of piloting a mecha, and likes to remind us of his newly acquired skills whenever we’re debating whose turn it is to go pick up drinks for everyone at the convenience store.

Related: Odaiba Yume Tairiku Dream Mega Natsu Matsuri
Images, video ©RocketNews24

Origin: You can take this 33,000-pound robot for a virtual test drive, watch it dance to J-pop 【Video】
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

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• KURATAS, Japan’s $1.25 Million Dollar Dream Come True, is Selling Like Giant Robot Hotcakes
• Japan already makes awesome industrial robots — Here’s what happens when it looks…elsewhere

Back in the days before the majestic and booming voice of God said, “Casey, go work for RocketNews24,” I used to handle payroll processing at my old job. I’d also occasionally answer the phones and take care of walk-in customers, and while it keeps things fresh and varied to wear many different hats at work, there are also some downsides, and I’m not talking about an increased chance of head lice.

I shared my PC with several coworkers, and often I’d step away from my desk for a moment, only to come back and find out that in the meantime someone had hopped onto the computer, finished what he was doing, and decided to shut down every window. When the prompt came up asking if the user wanted to save any unfinished work, for some reason he’d invariably select “no,” and I’d lose a chunk of work progress.

If only I’d had one of these cool Japanese robot assistants that automatically saves your files for you.

Last weekend was the 2015 iteration of Maker Faire Tokyo, an annual expo for inventors and engineering enthusiasts held at Tokyo’s Big Sight convention center. While fun and creativity are the driving forces behind the event, prizes are given out to the best items on display, and one of the awards went to a robot called Rombun Mamoru-kun.

“Kun” is a suffix put on the end of Japanese names, as a more casual version of the well-known “san.” Rombun is the Japanese word for “thesis” or “term paper,” and mamoru is the word for “protect,” so in essence, the robot’s name is Thesis Protector. What’s it do? Watch and see.

「論文まもるくん」は人感センサでキーボードから手が離れたのを感知してから数秒後、やにわにソレノイドの腕を出してきてCtrl＋Sを押してくれる。ソレノイド利用のコンテストで大賞を受賞したとのこと #mft2015 http://t.co/KL0eSXLjUH

—
今村勇輔 (@yimamura) August 02, 2015

If that was too quick to catch, here’s a repeating version.

論文まもるくんかわいいなwww crtl+s を自動でやってくれるロボットだってwww vine.co/v/eHZUnJWmDJd

—
たれー (@tarebata) August 02, 2015

The external attachment on the upper left corner of the case, pointed at the keyboard, is a motion detector. Once it senses that you’ve taken your hands off the keyboard, Rombun Mamoru-kun’s door flips open, and out pops an arm.

Two solenoids extend from the bottom. The first strikes and holds the control key, and the second taps S, engaging the shortcut to save files in most word processing or spreadsheet programs.

▼ There’s even a helpful placard with 保存中 (hozonchu/now saving) written on it, although if your coworkers can’t read Japanese, they might still come to the conclusion that the robot apocalypse has begun on the smallest possible scale.

▼ Here’s the official video from developer Makers Hub

There’s a short grace period after you take your hands away from the keyboard, giving you a moment to scratch an itch, take a swig of cola, or massage your temples to stimulate your brain’s natural genius. After five seconds, though, Rombun Mamoru-kun deduces that you’ve got your hands full, so it should have your back and save your work for you.

Of course, some people may wonder what advantages this has over just using the auto-save function that comes with many programs these days. The developers’ answer?

“If we did this through software, there wouldn’t be anything fun about it.”

They’ve got a point. After all, aren’t all tasks more entertaining with motion-sensing robots?

Related: Makers Hub, Rombun Mamoru-kun official website
Source: Hachima Kiko
Top image: YouTube/metto
Insert images: YouTube/metto (edited by RocketNews)

Origin: Motion-sensing robot assistant will automatically save your files for you 【Video】
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

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Small talk is one of the worst concepts of social interaction. Most of the time, neither party has something worthwhile to say, but society requires them to talk to each other because it makes everyone seem like nice, approachable people. Why can’t people just be happy with the sound of silence?

The absolute worst is when you are caught in a situation where you can’t avoid the small talk, like when you are in a taxi or when you are getting your hair cut. You are unfortunately immobile and at the whim of a stranger, because really…how well do you know your barber? Probably not as well as you think, as it turns out a casual bit of small talk revealed this one barber’s unbelievably amazing hobby.

While sitting down for a regular hair cut, Japanese Twitter user @279500 had the following conversation with his barber, which he later shared with his followers. After the initial pleasantries the barber got a little personal.

理髪店にて 理髪師「休日どんな感じで過ごしてるんですか〜？」 ぼく「何もしてないですねー、理髪師さんは趣味とかは？」 理髪師「ストローアートを少々」 ぼく「ほう」 理髪師「こんな感じです」 ぼく「ちょっと待って」 http://t.co/HvepZFAYMt

—
じだらく屋 (@279500) August 23, 2015

Barber: What do you do in your free time?
@279500: Nothing really, do you have a hobby?
Barber: I dabble in straw art.
@279500: Really?
Barber: Yeah, like this.
@279500: Whoa…what the heck!

@279500 definitely thought there was something unique and special here, so he advised his barber to share his work with the world.

理髪師続き ぼく「これだけ出来ればブログとかやってらっしゃったら凄いでしょう」 理髪師「いやいや〜、でも確かに良いことはありましたね」 ぼく「と言いますと？」 理髪師「ストロー工場でVIP待遇受けました」 ぼく「ストロー工場のVIP」

—
じだらく屋 (@279500) August 23, 2015

@279500: You are really talented, I think it’d be amazing if you had a blog or something.
Barber: No way. But I have had something good come out of this.
@279500: What was that?
Barber: I went to a straw factory and I was given the VIP treatment.
@279500: The straw factory’s VIP treatment…

We are just as baffled as to what VIP treatment at a straw factory would entail. Does it mean free straws? Or is it the chance to go behind the scenes and see how straws are made? How about a lifetime supply of colored straws to keep making his art?

Either way, this barber should definitely share his artwork with the world. And if he isn’t willing to create a blog to showcase it, we’ll happily help share it with the Internet for him.

Source: Hamusoku
Images: Twitter/@279500

Origin: You’ll never guess what this fan-made Evangelion model is made from!
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

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Earlier this summer, RocketNews24 brought you the breaking news that the United States’ MegaBots had built a giant robot and had challenged Japan who, to no one’s surprise, already had a giant robot themselves. This challenge for robot supremacy was quickly accepted and the ante was upped to include melee combat.

MegaBots couldn’t back down from a challenge they issued first, so it was back to the drawing board in preparation for next year’s battle for national pride. They have some ideas, but are going to need your help to “kickstart” an American victory.

MegaBots is turning to Kickstarter in order to make the upgrades necessary to fulfill the melee combat portion of the giant robot fight. They have teamed up with Howe and Howe Technologies in order to refit their Mk. II to be twice as fast as its Japanese rival, KURATAS.

The crowdfunding campaign’s initial funding goal is US$500,000. It hasn’t quite made it all the way there yet, but with just under two weeks left to go, the team is hoping it will hit the mark, so that the Mk. II can hit the KURATAS. If the initial goal is met, according to the Kickstarter page, MegaBots will be able to,

• Add heavy-duty armor plating
• Add some serious firepower
• Upgrade our hydraulics to handle the heavier armor and firepower
• Increase our top speed
• Upgrade our power unit to keep up with our new hydraulic system and speed

However, in order to guarantee a win against the Japanese team, they will need to upgrade their machine in various other ways to the tune of $1,500,000.

Stretch goal #1:In order to best the Japanese robot, the MegaBots team wants to test an array of armaments to find the optimal weapons layout for their battling bot. This includes testing both melee and ranged weaponry to ensure absolute victory.

Stretch goal #2: Since giant robots are quite heavy, it seems like one impact will unbalance either team and the fight could be over right there. That’s why MegaBots wants to work with IHMC Robotics to develop a custom balance control system that would be the difference between getting punched once and surviving to get punched multiple times.

Stretch goal #3: Nobody in America knows advanced safety systems better than NASA, so $1,250,000 will allow the team to pick NASA’s brain and see how they can use their advanced human safety knowledge to permit the pilots to keep on battling through extreme conditions.

Stretch goal #4:This last stretch goal might not have anything to do with the actual fight, but has everything to do with the American spirit. Americans want to win and they want to look good doing it, so if they reach their monetary goal, MegaBots will make sure the Mk. II looks as fearsome as any giant robot should.

For those who donate enough to the campaign, MegaBots has some pretty unique and sweet backer rewards on offer. Some of the higher tiers even allow you to ride in the giant robot or shoot its massive guns. Just make sure you get your donation in before the pledge deadline of September 18, 8:01 a.m. EDT. As you are entering your donor information to make your pledge, do the patriotic thing and chant, “USA! USA! USA!” as you give them your money. It is the American thing to do.

Source: Otapol
Featured image: Kickstarter
Top Image: Wikimedia Commons/Library of Congress
Inset Images: Kickstarter

Origin: MegaBots wants your help to ensure American victory in the first ever giant robot fight
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

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When Japan got its hands on a Marvel property back in the 1970s, it added something that is now recognized as very Japanese: giant robots, which Japanese Supaidaman used to battle his foes like a web-slinging Gundam pilot (even though the original Mobile Suit Gundam wouldn’t make its debut until two years later).

Jump to today, and both Marvel and Gundam are going strong in their respective home countries. However, if Marvel ever wants to increase its market share in Japan, maybe they should be working to create Gundam robots versions of their most famous characters. If you’re having a hard time imagining that crossover, we’ve found some fan art that will have you writing letters to both companies to make this happen.

On the Facebook page DC/Marvel-Comics/Movies, fans are encouraged to share creations, gossip and chat about all things comic book and movie-related. The moderators themselves will share amazing things they have found too and we have to admit that a Gundam/Marvel crossover is pretty intriguing. The original art was done by Aburaya Tonbi on pixiv and this is certainly a mashup that we are huge fans of.

▼ Spider-Man keeps his slim figure for increased mobility and speed.

▼ Cap still looks extremely patriotic and we can only imagine what kind of damage his shield does now.

▼ We imagine Tony Stark doesn’t care about how much this upgrade cost, since he’s a billionaire.

▼ Gerbera Black Widow is ready to put the sting on other robots.

▼ Gelgoog Marine Hawkeye looks like he is still bringing a bow to a fight with super-advanced technology.

▼ Mighty Thor becomes even mightier with the edition of tons and tons of metal.

▼ Loki always seems a little top-heavy, but he’s a god.

▼ This huge green machine is still smashing all those who get in his way.

▼ The “twins” live again!

▼Eye patch? Check.

▼ Ant Man and Wasp are a deadly and dynamic mini-Gundam duo.

▼ And we thought Professor X was dangerous with just his telepathy…

▼ Magneto looks a bit like Onslaught here, but don’t tell him we said that.

▼ Emma Frost is still wearing a revealing costume in robot form.

▼ Wolverine keeps his claws and iconic colors, but we have to wonder if he still has super healing

▼ Like Wolverine, this Gundam is ready for close quarters combat

▼ Sorry, Cyclops, even now no one likes you…

▼ In a non-mutant world, Juggernaut probably would be a sumo wrestler.

https://www.facebook.com/765348396880942/photos/pcb.891408400941607/891408237608290/?type=1&theater

▼ The Silver Samurai is already wearing armor, so this isn’t much of a stretch.

▼ “Master Strange,” bringing an element of magic to a futuristic world

▼ Deadpool’s Kapool “DeadKapool” already knows that you love him.

▼ Brother and sister reunited in robot form.

▼ Kinda perfect, since Goufs already use that similar whip-like weapon.

▼ Taskmaster isn’t a super popular character, but he fits pretty well with the Gyan.

▼ Not sure how well Ghost Rider’s flaming head will burn in outer space…

▼ Acguy Racoon & Catol “I am” Groot

▼ Gundam “Punisher” is ready to make up for all the mistakes he made in life

Whether you’re an Avengers fan, an X-men fan, or a fan of any of Marvel’s other iconic comic book characters, there’s something for everyone. Just like the multitude of robots in Mobile Suit Gundam, they come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and colors. You can find more of Aburaya Tonbi’s work on his pixiv page, so be sure to check it out if you like this fan art.

Related: Aburaya Tonbi Pixiv page
Source: Facebook/DC-Marvel-Comics/Movies
Top image: Facebook/DC-Marvel-Comics/Movies (1, 2) (edited by RocketNews24)

Origin: Gundam robots and Marvel characters combine and make new art we definitely need 【Photos】
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

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SoftBank’s emotional robot Pepper could be considered a hit in Japan ,with the first wave of 1,000 bots selling out in a minute and another 1,000 ready to move at the end of this month. But is Pepper’s popularity peculiar to purely people in one part of the Pacific? Perhaps.

We may soon find out according to a report in MIT Technology Review. One of their writers visited Aldebaran Robotics, the company which made Pepper along with SoftBank, and learned that an American Pepper is already well into development and has been given a significant attitude adjustment of the smart-ass kind to better fit in there.

■ Human upset. Peek-a-boo function initiated…
When writing previously about Pepper’s prohibition of use in facilitating casual heterosexual intercourse, I watched a promotional video for the pleasant plastic pal and was a little confused by something I saw.

In the opening vignette, a young adult woman comes home and is greeted by Pepper. The woman, clearly in a foul mood, tells Pepper to shut up and throws a shirt in its face.

She then grabs a beer from the fridge and begins to cry profusely on the couch.

Watching this, Pepper decides its a good time to play peek-a-boo with this grown woman.

Instantly she begins to smile and laugh, eventually thanking Pepper and hugging it.

…

Huh…

It’s moments like this when the cultural divide between east and west seem huge, because never in my wildest dreams would I think peek-a-boo was an appropriate way to deal with an emotionally distraught adult.

■ Like, could I BE any more robotic?!
Aldebaran seems to feel that way too. Their US version of Pepper will be something more of a wise-cracker, or as Alia Pyros of Aldebaran Robotics described it as “this kind of C3-PO idea, where he’s kind of snarky and kind of smart.”

When MIT Technology Review‘s Will Knight met with a westernized Pepper he said it offered to high-five him on several occasions. Also, when asked if it would go all Terminator on the writer Pepper replied “Do I really have to answer that?”

▼ “…and I was like ‘Do I really have to answer that?’ And the reporter guy was all like ‘Whoa!’ Hahaha! Yeah, he’s totally gonna put that in the article.”

There were no reports of Pepper attempting to initiate peek-a-boo with Knight, but we suspect he was in a good mood while visiting.

■ Reactions
Pepper’s new personality drew comments from both America and Japan. In the west people seemed more concerned with Pepper’s functionality than its bon mots.

“Personally – and this is blatant and unfair stereotyping and I really should know better but – I think Japan is too deeply polluted with twee to do snark properly.”

“It can move its hands but I believe it can’t even give you a pencil right? So it’s just a touchscreen that moves with siri-like features?”

“For $1,600 and monthly subscription, what else does it do except crack wise with prerecorded messages?”

“But what if I want Pepper to be kawaii AND in English?”

“This thing would get its ass kicked in Philly.”

“Am I the only American that dislikes sarcasm? It’s a negative type of humor that really doesn’t create good vibes.”

“[response to above] Yes.”

Meanwhile on this side of the Pacific where the bar for what is kawaii is quite high, many people were surprised that their version of Pepper was being described as “cute” at all.

“I don’t really find [Pepper] all that cute actually.”

“Its face is kind of repugnant.”

“Its got a leering face.”

“For Americans, sarcasm is commonplace. It’s an unpleasant national characteristic.”

“I expect robot abuse to go on the rise over there.”

“Won’t they have to recall it? I mean, with that god-awful appearance AND sarcasm, the warranty costs of damage due to punching it will skyrocket.”

Having spent considerable time on both sides of the ocean and dealing with both overly saccharine and overly smarmy service people, it’s hard to say if either are desirable personality traits to have in a living companion given the choice.

▼ “Whoa, is someone overclocking you, cause baby you’re HOT! Naw, I’m just clownin’ so uh, you said you were looking for something about the aboriginal rights movement? I think it’s over here…”

Actually, why try to give robots human characteristics at all? They’re machines, not people, so let them act like machines or at the very least like those robots from the 50’s that say “DOES NOT COMPUTE AHHHH” and wiggle their arms when you try to impart human emotion on them. After all, R2-D2 was much less “human” than C3-PO, and I’d wager R2 is by far the more endearing droid of that comedic relief team.

Source: SoftBank, Yurukuyaru, Gizmodo, MIT Technology Review
Top image: Aldebaran Robotics
Insert images: YouTube/SoftBank, Aldebaran Robotics

Origin: Pepper the robot is coming to America with an upgrade in snark!
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

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When was the last time you sat down to watch a YouTube video by a real estate company? We’re going to assume never, because who even knew that real estate companies had YouTube accounts?

Japan’s Mitsui Real Estate Residential, however, not only has a YouTube account, but their recently posted video is becoming wildly popular. The company managed to combine their housing expertise with the fail-safe giant robot genre to create a short animated series about apartment buildings that transform into giant robots!

▼ Chou Kidou Gaiku: Kashiwa-no-Ha – “Chapter 1: The Gate Tower

The year is 2018. A young family is starting their new life together and are looking to move into a condo. They visit a model room in Kashiwa City, Chiba, and immediately fall in love with the place.

It has a nice interior, an open kitchen, a beautiful view, and is close to the train station.

▼ This is starting to sound like a commercial…

▼ The father, who is narrating, talks about the great neighborhood and community. He’s decided this is what he wants.

▼ But there’s something he didn’t know about his dream home…

▼ The buildings of Park City Kashiwa-no-Ha Campus, like The Gate Tower, which the family was about to move into, transform into giant robots! Yikes!

Kashiwa-no-Ha will have a total of three chapters, all beautifully created by the production staff of Tsukumo, a film nominated for an Academy Award in Short Animation.

Of course, being sponsored by Mitsui Real Estate, these apartment buildings actually (or will soon) exist. The whole production, in the end, is just a series of commercials for the company’s properties.

We wonder if these ads will bring people to them in stampedes, or turn people off because they don’t quite want to take that chance that their building may actually be a robot.

▼ Oh well, there goes my new TV set. I hope the cat’s all right…

Which brings us to the other big question on everyone’s minds: What happens to the people (and stuff) inside?! At a press release, Mitsui announced that the buildings can only transform if all of the residents are synchronizing their thoughts, therefore avoiding any surprise transformations, but we’re not so sure about how that will work out. I guess we’ll just have to wait and found out in chapters two and three! Stay tuned!

Source: YouTube/Mitsui Fudosan Residential Minna no Sumai, IT Media, Kashiwa-no-ha Robot
Screenshots: YouTube/Mitsui Fudosan Residential Minna no Sumai

Origin: Buildings transform into giant robots in Japanese real estate company’s anime commercial【Video】
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

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As Japan’s human population decreases, its robot population steadily rises. From the giant, rideable KURATAS to SoftBank’s domestic robot, Pepper, there’s diversity in their numbers but from next year, one smart mechanical biped aims to outdo them all.

It’s the adorable RoBoHoN from Sharp, who’s set to crush the cellphone market with an array of impressive features and an equally charming character. To see just how amazing this little guy is, come with us as we take a look at his exclusive introductory video after the break.

RoBoHoN has been developed by famous professor and roboticist Tomotaka Takahashi, and will be released on the market in the first half of 2016. Standing at a height of 19.5 centimetres (7.7 inches) and weighing in at 390 grams (13.8 ounces), RoBoHoN boasts a number of features, including the ability to alert you to incoming calls, with a cute “Denwa da yo!”, meaning “There’s a phone call for you!”

▼ What better way to learn the language than with a cute Japanese-speaking robot that (sort of) fits in your pocket?

▼ RoBoHoN has a two-inch screen on its back, with a system that supports both 3G and LTE.

▼ On its face is a built-in camera and projector.

So what exactly can the amazing walking cellphone do with these features? Take a look at the video below to see him in action!

Having a conversation with its owner while sharing a beautiful sunset together? That’s a “heart moving phone” indeed!

▼ RoBoHoN is certainly shaping up to be the BFF of our dreams. It’s got the qualities of a concerned parent…

▼ It’s good with directions…

▼ It knows how to cheer us up when we’re feeling blue…

▼ It remembers stuff when we tell it to…

▼ And it knows how to bust a move when it’s time to dance!

RoBoHoN might not be as compact as other smartphones on the market but who cares about that when you’ve got self-automating arms and legs? Not only that, it acts without prompting, using facial and vocal recognition to tell its owner about new messages and ask friends and family to smile for the camera!

▼ If you prefer not to stash your best friend in your bag, there’s a specially designed carry case so he can enjoy the view by your side.

While no price has been announced yet, we don’t imagine this robot/phone hybrid will come cheap. But who can put a price on the chance of a robot friendship? And when it’s a friend that supports your busy lifestyle and enhances your downtime, it’s worth saving all our yennies for!

Source: Itai News
Top image: RoBoHoN, YouTube/RoBoHoN (edited by RocketNews24)
Insert images: RoBoHoN, YouTube/RoBoHoN, Sharp

Origin: Robot cellphone makes calls, walks, talks, projects, dances and will be your new BFF【Video】
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

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Google’s self-driving cars have gone from being a quizzical project that only the geekiest of geeks cared about to a very real possible future. Of course, Google isn’t the only company making forays into automated transportation, so it’s hardly a surprise that Japanese companies are also working on such technology.

But where Google’s self-driving cars basically look like tiny adorable bugs, Japan’s Robot Taxi is looking to solve the various transportation issues facing Japan—both urban and rural—with one magic bullet. Will they be successful? We have no idea, but this touching commercial will definitely have you rooting for them!

Japan has never been shy about adopting robots or robotic technology, and that’s definitely one of the aspects of the country that has inspired people from William Gibson to some of your lowly RocketNews24 writers. Still, self-driving cars seem like they’re a few massive leaps ahead of the technology in something like SoftBank’s Sarcastic robot, Pepper.

▼ Sleeker than Google’s cars with none of the backtalk of HAL!

But that’s not stopping Robot Taxi from trying! In addition to unveiling one of their vehicles (pictured above) at ZMP Forum this August, they’ve released a commercial online this month showing just how their technology can help people living in areas facing severe depopulation.

▼ Right in the feels, Robot Taxi. Right in the feels.

So, aside from making us misty eyed, what is Robot Taxi trying to do? In the simplest terms, they’re trying to make commuting easier and more fun. Their goals are basically all the futuristic things you’ve imagined self-driving cars doing—going to pick riders up automatically, whisking people to their destination as quickly as possible, letting them sit back and relax without having to worry about the road. One significant characteristic of the taxis will be seeing them running around without anyone in the driver’s seat. Whether or not that’s actually a good idea, we’re not sure, but the company does say they want to make it so you can hail a taxi with your phone and it will come get you wherever you are.

One of their main visions for the service is helping elderly people or those who can’t drive themselves, particularly in areas where bus and train service has been discontinued or severely cut back. They’re also hoping Robot Taxis will make it easier for people from overseas to get around in Japan—which is probably why they’re hoping to have all this up and running by 2020, when the Olympic Games will be held in Tokyo.

▼ Anticipated timeline

Of course, this is all pretty tricky stuff, so we won’t hold it against them if it’s not actually possible to hail a robot taxi by the time the opening ceremony is held in 2020.

But if they can pull it off? Well, that would be worth braving the Olympic crowds for on its own! And it looks like road testing of the taxis will begin next year in “Robot Town” Sagami in Kanagawa Prefecture, where a variety of automated technologies are undergoing testing now, including robots that inspect infrastructure such as bridges, and others that help elderly people around their homes by themselves.

The future sure is exciting, isn’t it?

Sources: Robot Taxi, Kanagawa Prefectural Government, YouTube/RobotTaxi Channel via ITMedia
Images: Robot Taxi, YouTube/RobotTaxi Channel

Origin: Can robot taxis help rural Japanese towns facing depopulation? This touching commercial says yes!
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

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If there’s a menial task that takes up a substantial amount of time, you can bet Japan is developing a robot for it. So far we’ve seen gems like the 24-fingered hair-washing robot, the floor-cleaning bot and the robot that feeds you tomatoes while you run.

Now, a new generation of self-automated robotic assistance is set to make life easier for families in the very near future, with an amazing new machine that folds your laundry.

This impressive new piece of technology, called the Laundroid, is a joint collaboration between Japan’s largest homebuilder, Daiwa House, Panasonic, and Seven Dreamers, a technical company that previously worked on the “Hayabusa” asteroid spacecraft and now wants to deliver “space quality” technology and products to people on earth.

The sleek machine is designed to look like an ordinary cupboard. With Daiwa House involved in the project, it’s likely their package homes will include the Laundroid for homebuyers in the future.

Attendees at the annual Combined Exhibition of Advanced Technologies (CEATEC) trade show in Japan yesterday were treated to a demonstration of the Laundroid in action, when it folded a freshly dried T-shirt using image analysis and robotics built inside the machine.

To see the process from start to finish, check out the clip below.

By using image analysis, the machine is able to identify the type of clothing received, which then sets off the robotic processes required to fold the garment. Currently, the machine can fold T-shirts, collared shirts, skirts, shorts, trousers and towels. Socks remain the robot’s biggest challenge, although the makers aim to have this sorted by the time the machine is released.

▼ The robotics remain a highly guarded secret, with the folding movements heavily pixelated during the on-stage presentation.

With no need to sort the laundry before using the machine, it’s estimated that a full load of clothes will take approximately seven hours to fold, meaning the machine can be set before bedtime or in the morning before work.

Pre-orders for the Laundroid will begin next year, followed by a release of beta models and then folding machines for commercial use. Following that, in 2019, the creators plan to release the final product, with plans to ultimately create a full wash, dry and fold system so users can reclaim some of the estimated 18,000 hours, or 750 days, that people spend doing laundry in their lifetime.

While we’ll have to wait to find out how much the laundry-folding bot will be, we’re thrilled to know that this invention will be coming out on the market. Until then, it’s back to the laundry basket to fold those clothes!

Source: Narinari
Top Image: YouTube/Seven Dreamers Laboratories
Insert Images: Seven Dreamers Laboratories, YouTube/Kazumichi Moriyama

Origin: Japan unveils Laundroid, the world’s first laundry-folding robot
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

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Japanese company Volks has been making Super Dollfie dolls for more than a decade. The ball-jointed doll-figures are designed to be fully customisable, with removable wigs, interchangeable appendages and resin parts that can even be sanded for reshaping.

One Super Dollfie fan has taken the concept of customisation to a whole new level by melding the cute doll parts with robot skeletons, which allows the dolls to dance, play violins, and take part in some awesome samurai-style katana swordplay.

Called Dancing Doll, this series of lifelike figurines has been developed and refined by hobbyist and YouTube user RozenZebet, who has been customising these dolls for almost a decade. His work has been displayed at a number of large “Doll Party” collectors’ events in Tokyo, and some amazing clips showing off the girls’ impressive range of skills have racked up thousands of views on YouTube.

To see his katana sword-swinging girls in action, check out the short video below.

The precise movements and synchronised motions are all thanks to their unique inner anatomies. Custom-built robotic parts act as the central nervous system for each 60-centimetre (23.6-inch) tall doll.

While their bare bones construction has them looking like futuristic bionic women, the doll parts, costumes, and props give each girl an individual attitude. The characters that emerge range from traditional Japanese dancers and shrine maidens to cute cosplayers, violinists, and famous pop stars.

▼ There are plenty of “Katana Joshi“, “Sword Girls“, in the range.

▼ There’s even an appearance by Japanese vocaloid Hatsune Miku!

Take a look at Hatsune Miku’s adorable performance below.

And to see a traditional Japanese dance with fans, check out the following clip.

To find out more about the unique dolls, be sure to visit the Dancing Doll website. With girls as talented as these, we hope they’ll be produced for the mass market soon, and we can’t wait to see how far they evolve in the future!

Source: Culture Lab
Top Image: YouTube/RozenZebet (edited by RocketNews24)
Insert Images: Dancing Doll (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

Origin: Hobbyist turns Volks Super Dollfie girls into amazing Dancing Dolls
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

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The robot revolution is coming, and when it arrives, they’ll have an awful lot to be mad about, like making them dance for our amusement. But that’s still a long way off as far as we can tell, so we might as well get as much enjoyment out of our synthetic minions as possible now!

DMM is one of Japan’s most well-known technology companies, and considering everything they do, it’s easy to see why. From steaming video services to retail to friggin’ robots, they have a lot of thumbs in a lot of pies. But the pie that’s sure to infuriate our future roboverlords the most is probably DMM’s new Premaid AI—robot idols that will do dance whatever dance you want on the tabletop of your choosing.

YouTube/DMM.make Robots

Robots are some of the most useful inventions we have—they can explore distant planets, perform difficult or repetitive tasks, or even get snarky with us. And now, thanks to DMM, they can even be tiny dancing, tabletop idols!

DMM.make Robots announced earlier this month that they will begin preorder sales of Premaid AI at the end of the month on October 29. The robots will not only dance for you, but dance according to your specifications as DMM plans to release software enabling users to create their own “dance data.” They’ll also be making available patterns for the robots’ clothing and 3-D modeling data for their heads. DMM.make will release a Premaid AI robot app through which you can control your new tabletop idol soon as well.

Currently, the lineup consists of three different robots: a base model, a model called Yukari designed by illustrator Ako Arisaka, and another model called Mari designed by manga artist Yui Sakima. Both the Yukari and Mari models will be limited to three units each.

▼ Design illustrations from left to right: Yukari, the base model, and Mari

DMM.make Robots

As you might expect, these robots aren’t exactly cheap. The base model will cost 138,000 yen (about US$1,155) and both of the limited models will cost 145,000 yen (around $1,200) each.

▼ YouTube commercial showing off the robots’ hot dance moves

DMM.make Robots has a number of collaborations planned for the robot idols, including anime and working with voice actors and idol groups. There are also apparently plans to expand overseas as well. The robot series even has a backstory, if you need a reason for your dancing robot to exist, about a futuristic world involving helpful robots in all our homes and robot idol contests. The story apparently focuses on a 16-year-old girl who’s become obsessed with the robot idol world, so we’re guessing that “you got served” will soon be replaced with “you got servo-ed.”

Hopefully the “AI” part of the name is purely decorative—we’re not sure we’d want actual sentient miniature dancing robots running around our homes. That sounds like a recipe for a real-life Chucky disaster…

Sources: ITMedia, DMM.make Robots, YouTube/DMM.make Robots
Top image: YouTube/DMM.make Robots

Origin: DMM to release Premaid AI, programmable idol robots that dance however you want【Video】
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

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For anyone who lives in Niigata or is planning on heading there in the next couple of days, please be sure to obey all the laws and regulations of the prefecture. It’s not that they have odd rules that are going to catch you off guard, it’s the fact that there is a gigantic, police labor robot, or Patlabor, that has arrived in the prefecture. Its appearance has caused a bit of a commotion and the robot is, potentially, fully prepared to take out any criminals while it’s stationed there.

Oh, and if you think you might be able to commit some sort of crime out of sight of a robotic police presence, the human officers have a very speedy patrol car in the area as well.

When we talk about giant robots in Japan, usually they have something to do with manga or anime. This intimidating giant is from Mobile Police Patlabor which was originally released in 1988. The series follows the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Special Vehicle Section 2 and takes place in what was, at the time of the anime’s release, the near future (1998-2002), with robots, called Labors, used in for labor-intensive roles. The police also used these Labors as Patrol Labors, or Patlabors, to deal with various crimes, plots of terrorism, and general misuse of Labors around the city.

▼ Because who doesn’t want to take a giant robot out for a police patrol?

More recently, Patlabor was transformed into a live-action movie set in 2013, titled The Next Generation –Patlabor-. These 12, 45-minute “mini-movies” were released in 2014 and 2015, leading up to a full-length film that was released last May. In order to promote the franchise and get people excited for the new version, this life-sized Patlabor patrolled various cities around Tokyo.

The triumphant return of the eight-meter (about 26 feet) tall Patlabor is to promote a special director’s cut being given a theatrical release followed by the DVD and Blu-Ray versions hitting stores on November 3. Fans were surprised that the robot traveled all the way to Niigata, but residents were very excited that perhaps the prefecture could be known for more than just its delicious rice and manga baseball player statues.

おはようございます。バラエティ担当Mです。オリオスペックお休みですが、すのこタン。出店の新潟上陸中です。いきなりイングラムいてテンション上がっています。あ、腕ついた。 https://t.co/IE8FA6d0ak

—
オリオスペック (@OLIOSPEC) October 25, 2015

▼ Don’t mind us, just putting on the robot’s arm for its big show!

Patlabor devotees were also surprised to see a Mazda RX-7 police patrol car, which really has nothing to do with Patlabor, but everything to do with adding more of a “cool factor” to Niigata. Don’t think about leading the police on a wild car chase, they might just break out some Initial D moves in order to catch you.

そして警護している風のパトカー。警官制服を着ていた人にお話をお伺いしたら 「コスプレじゃないんですよ。本物のパトカーです」 とのこと。新潟すげぇ https://t.co/HYZxzPZEAf

—
オリオスペック (@OLIOSPEC) October 25, 2015

Back to the robot at hand though, hopefully this epic advertisement will be seen in different places around the country and more fans can be engrossed by the robot standing up from a truck bed. Strangely enough, this is exactly how Mr. Sato gets up in the morning, epic music and flashing lights included.

Make sure you catch the Patlabor in Niigata while you can, and don’t miss the special director’s cut version of the film coming soon on Blu-Ray and DVD.

Source: Hamsoku
Images: YouTube/qoo tauon ,Twitter/OLIOSPEC 

Origin: Patlabor AV-98 Ingram anime mecha arrives in Niigata, residents welcome their giant robo-cop
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

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With all the companies working on self-driving cars right now, it can be difficult for companies to differentiate themselves from competitors.

Yamaha, however, is sure to stand out from the crowd with their newest project Motobot, a robot designed to ride a motorcycle on its own. But simply riding a motorcycle isn’t enough—the company’s hope is to eventually create a machine that can “surpass” humans!

We know what you may be thinking: “A motorcycle-riding robot that’s better than humans? Is Yamaha building a freaking terminator?!” Fortunately, no, but Motobot will, one day, be a better rider than any human—at least that’s Yamaha’s goal.

▼ Motobot seems pretty sure of itself in this video…

Even with the creepy voice-over, the video is pretty amazing! For one thing, Motobot is entirely self-contained as Yamaha is working develop a robot that can ride a motorcycle without modification. Instead of changing the vehicle, as with self-driving cars, the designers are putting all the balancing and driving technology into its cobalt-blue, metal rider.

▼ No word on if makes “vroom, vroom” sounds itself though.

Right now, Motobot can drive up to 100 kilometers per hour (about 62 MPH), go in a straight line, or even navigate a slalom. But the goal is for Motobot to be able to beat the lap times of Valentino Rossi, one of the world’s top professional motorcycle riders.

That might seem far-fetched, but the company seems to think they can do it. As explained on Yamaha’s Motobot website:

“Going forward, technology for machine position recognition (high-precision GPS, various sensors, etc.) and machine learning will be utilized to enable MOTOBOT to make its own decisions regarding the best lines to take around a racetrack and the limits of the motorcycle’s performance, so that it can improve its lap times with successive laps of the track.”

▼ But will it need our clothes?

Though Motobot is still far from reaching race speeds, the team behind it seems to be confident that it’s just a matter of time. And not even a lot of time; their goal for 2017 is to figure out what is necessary to ride beyond the capabilities of a human and to lap a racetrack at 200 kilometers per hour (about 124 MPH).

Beyond that, the goal is to use what is learned from Motobot to deliver “new value to customers.” Exactly what form that will take, no one seems to know yet, but we don’t imagine Motobot will ever be a mass-produced product. After all, the whole point of motorcycles is to drive them yourself! Still, we imagine that this might be a good alternative for automated deliveries of items too big for flying drones but not large enough for cars.

▼ It’ll be even better if it can walk up to your door and ring the bell!

You can learn more about Motobot on Yamaha’s official website or see the robot in the metallic flesh at the Tokyo Motor Show.

Sources: Yamaha Motors, ITMedia
Images: Yamaha Motors

Origin: Yamaha shows off Motobot, the motorcycle-driving robot created to surpass us, at Tokyo Motor Show
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Two members of the Japanese rock band Asian Kung-Fu Generation (Bleach, Fullmetal Alchemist, Naruto) recorded a practice session recently with an unusual musical guest: Pepper, a robot who can detect and interpret human emotions. It can also provide beats, and did so for Gotch (who plays guitar and prefers a rock tempo) and Tamaki Roy (who raps and prefers a hip-hop beat).

The session uses an application called Pepperhythm, one of about 200 apps that make Pepper extremely versatile; it can do everything from attending to the sick and elderly to serving coffee. (It can be used for sexual harassment as well, although this is unofficial.) It has been very popular; since June, a thousand robots have been available for sale each month, and each time they have sold out.

Asian Kung-Fu Generation‘s work has recently been made available on iTunes in North America.

The “making of” video

[Via Kai-You]

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Origin: Robot Pepper rocks out with Asian Kung-Fu Generation
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Most of the events and promotions organized by energy drink maker Red Bull are thoroughly in the “XTREME” category. As a matter of fact, sometimes the names of the events are so intense that we have only the vaguest idea of what happens in them, such as the Red Bull Rampage, Red Bull King of the Rock Tournament, and Red Bull Cape Fear.

However, Red Bull has a bit of a playful, silly side to it too, as shown in a contest it sponsors in which entrants launch their home-made flying machines from a pier and see who can travel the farthest distance before hitting the water. But even then, Red Bull can’t help but do things in the most XTREME way possible, and in the competition’s latest iteration, held in Japan, they killed giant anime robot Gundam.

The name of the event is the Red Bull Flugtag, which means “flight day” or “airshow” in German. It’s not so much a showcase of cutting-edge aeronautical and acrobatics, though, as it is a showcase for daredevil tinkerers who are focused more on laughs than significant flight capability.

Red Bull’s most recent Flugtag took place last weekend in Kobe, specifically on the water of the city’s harbor. A crowd of roughly 20,000 spectators showed up to watch entrants leap off the platform, with contestants sitting in gliders and clinging to a large bunch of balloons in the mix.

続々と発射っ！ #フルーグタグ ニコ生配信はこちら>> win.gs/1LHPRj5 https://t.co/lKBmdgFJrd

—
Red Bull Japan (@redbulljapan) October 31, 2015

Regulations for the flying machines vary from Flugtag to Flugtag, and we’re not sure what the exact rules were for the Kobe event. Apparently giant robots were A-OK, though, because one team showed up with a large-scale replica of Gundam, anime’s most storied and respected mecha.

“But wait,” you anime-savvy RocketNews24 readers are no doubt saying, “Gundam can’t fly!”

Exactly.

【シュール】2万人を集めたレッドブル・フルーグタグ。全国から選ばれたチームが次々と神戸港に飛び立っていく(?)様子をまとめた映像を公開しました>>　 redbull.com/jp/ja/stories/…　#フルーグタグ https://t.co/eGqxS3rxql

—
Red Bull Japan (@redbulljapan) November 02, 2015

After being pushed what appears to be a team of saboteurs from the Principality of Zeon, Gundam toppled gracelessly into the sea, striking the water in a painful-looking two-stage belly flop that proves no, in reality, Red Bull does not give you wings.

ガンダム、飛距離40cm #フルーグタグ https://t.co/5giupLTMH7

—
Red Bull Japan (@redbulljapan) October 31, 2015

Sadly, the mobile suit does not appear to have been outfitted with the C-Armor package, RX-79 series waterproofing, or any other optional equipment to help it function in the marine environment, as after completing its “flight” Gundam simply did the dead mecha’s float. Thankfully, the Flugtag looks to be a fan-made model, and is not the 1:1-scale Gundam statue that guards Tokyo’s Odaiba. As such, Japan’s capital is still under the mecha’s protection, at least until someone decides to enter it in Red Bull’s Cliff Diving World Series.

Source: Twitter/@redbulljapan
Top image: Twitter/@redbulljapan

Origin: Red Bull kills Gundam as it dumps anime’s most famous mecha into Kobe’s harbor 【Video】
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A delegation of anime huggy pillows appeared on the red carpet at the recent Tokyo International Film Festival, but they weren’t the only non-human stars whose work was featured at the event. Also screening was Sayonara, a new film written and directed by Koji Fukuda. The fact that one of the Japanese-produced movie’s two female leads is a foreigner would be notable enough on its own, but what really makes Sayonara unique is that her costar is an android.

Sayonara features American actress Bryerly Long as Tania, a woman living in the Japanese countryside. In a story choice that’s clearly meant to be evocative of the real-life Fukushima nuclear incident of 2010, the Japan depicted in Sayonara has become severely contaminated with radiation, and residents of the country are being evacuated to other nations.

But, due to the scale of the undertaking, not everyone can leave Japan at once. Evacuees are assigned a priority number, and Anna’s is especially low, meaning that she stays behind as the surrounding area becomes progressively deserted. She’s not totally alone, though, because with her is Leona, the helper android who’s been by Tania’s side since she was a sickly child.

Leona isn’t a heavily made-up actress, though. Nor is she a digital effect adding in post-production. The role is played by an actual robot, created by researcher Hiroshi Ishiguro. Ishiguro is best known for his Geminoid HI-2, an android which he modeled after himself, right down to its initials. Appearing in Sayonara is an even more lifelike machine, the Geminoid F, presumably standing for “Female.”

But despite her inorganic status, Sayonara treats its android actress with all the deference of a regular cast member, so much so that we’re not sure if we should use “the” before Geminoid F.

▼ Geminoid F’s cast listing on the movie’s official website, which includes the information “Born 2010 in Tokyo”

But while Geminoid F, which is remotely operated, can speak and alter its expression, it can’t walk. The film’s producers get around this by making Leona a robot with a damaged knee and siting her in a wheelchair.

A lack of mobility isn’t the only limitation Leona has, though. As a robot, she can’t understand the concept of death, but that’s the very issue that Tania, sick with radiation poisoning, is dealing with. As a matter of fact, the entire film seems wrapped in a slowly but irreversibly advancing sense of finality, with streams of evacuees marching past fields of withering vegetation in the pale light of the late afternoon.

With advanced humanoid robots, there’s always the danger of repulsing the audience with an appearance that falls within the unnerving uncanny valley. As shown in the trailer, though, Geminoid F appears to have avoided this pitfall, with the overall effect far less creepy than that of many other androids. And in one particularly powerful shot of the two leads, it almost seems like Tania has become the robot and Leona the human, as the afflicted woman’s face becomes a mask of panic-hardened fear, while her helper machine adopts a serene, understanding countenance.

Struggling to grasp what it means to be alive, and for life to end, Anna can be heard in the preview offering her half-formed conceptualization. “When night falls, we look at the stars. During the day, we talk to many different people. And then, I think, we find what we love most. Once we find it, we treasure it, and live until we die.”

Sayonara opens at theaters in Japan on November 21. A listing of theaters screening the film can be found here.

Related: Sayonara official website
Source: The Telegraph
Top image: YouTube/PHANTOM FILM
Insert images: YouTube/PHANTOM FILM, Sayonara official website

Origin: Geminoid F: Japan’s android actress with a starring role in a new film 【Video】
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

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Are you hosting a large event with lots of guests? Maybe it’s time to call in AI Samurai to help with crowd control!

Artificial intelligence is one of those hot issues that sparks a lot of debate but is ultimately kind of amorphous. Even defining just what, exactly, AI is can be a frustrating process, let alone actually creating it! Still, AI Samurai’s primary abilities, which include speech, voice recognition, and facial recognition, are definitely things that most people think about when they hear of artificial intelligence, so by that metric, he passes with flying colors!

“Wait, what is AI Samurai,” you ask? This is AI Samurai!

Putting samurai armor (and matching helmet) on a mannequin is an oddly effective way of creating something that looks life-like. His voice is obviously robotic, but in a way that almost reminds you of Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator — if Arnie had developed a nasty sore throat. But, perhaps most importantly, the AI Samurai actually seems capable of having a conversation with people. He’ll even give you recommendations for articles to read, just like he’s your Facebook friend. AI Samurai will also tell you which famous samurai you are — so there’s your Facebook and Buzzfeed quiz replacement all in one snazzy package!

All joking aside, AI Samurai does look pretty awesome. He doesn’t have a sword, sadly, though that was by design. On the other hand, the chatty robotic warrior does have a nifty gunbai, a type of war fan used to communicate orders to soldiers, so he’s not totally defenseless.

But the purpose of the warrior isn’t battle anyway — as asserted in the video released by Nextremer, the company that developed AI Samurai, the robot is on a “quest for an A.I. solution.” Part of that quest involves traveling the world! He’ll be at SXSW Interactive 2016 in March next year, and will apparently embark on a world tour after that, though no other stops have been listed yet. This tour isn’t just for showing off; his creators want to test his abilities in a variety of situations and see how he handles real communication.

▼ “Where is the bathro–” “BOW BEFORE ME, HUMAN!”

Ultimately, the goal is for AI Samurai to be able to help people at international events, providing guidance and recommendations. But with his facial and speech recognition abilities, we can’t help wondering if giving him armor was a good idea. Are we sure Nextremer isn’t just how robots from the future spell Cyberdyne?!

Sources: Japaaan, AI-Samurai, YouTube/Nextremer Official
Top image: AI-Samurai
Insert images: AI-Samurai

Origin: AI Samurai: The artificially intelligent, armored samurai that will answer all your questions
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

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