14 DAY TRIAL // A team of scientists working with the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at the University of Zurich has just made it public news that, this coming March, a robot boy suggestively named Roboy will be “born.”
To cut a long story short, these researchers plan to build a state-of-the-art humanoid robot, and claim that their project will be completed within nine months. Thus, work on this project began roughly five months ago, and should come to an end within the next four.
What sets Roboy apart from other humanoid robots of its kind is the fact that its make-up draws heavily on the anatomy of children.
Because of this, the robot will be fully capable of performing various chores that are presently carried out by children and adults.
Roboy's inventors believe that their humanoid robot might eventually be made to help elderly people who find it ever more difficult to get about the house.
Interestingly enough, Roboy could also get a tricycle, which would make it significantly easier for it to transport heavy items from one location to another.
“Service robots are machines that are, to a certain extent, able to execute services independently for the convenience of human beings,” the researchers explain.
Furthermore, “Our aging population is making it necessary to keep older people as autonomous as possible for as long as possible, which means caring for aged people is likely to be an important area for the deployment of service robots.”
Daily Mail reports that Roboy's rather swift and elegant movements will come as a result of its being made up of artificial muscles and tendons, both of which will be fixed on a skeleton strikingly similar to that of a child.
In order to make sure Roboy does not end up scaring people, the researchers intend to also cover its body with a soft “skin,” whose major purpose will be that of making it more pleasant to touch.
Roboy will be unveiled during the upcoming Robots on Tour event in Zurich.