14 DAY TRIAL // When it comes to robots, so far, Japan rules. They're a few generations ahead of the Americans and a century ahead of any other competitor in the field. Sony's AIBO was the first robot dog to recognize words and objects, and Honda's ASIMO is the first humanoid robot that can walk on two feet in a manner resembling human locomotion at up to 6 km/h (3.7 mph).
The newest Japanese robot sticks to its name. And to it humanoid looks. The HRP-3 Promet Mk-II humanoid robot is 1,60 meters tall (5 feet 4) and can easily walk on a slippery floor on which sand had been previously scattered. It is also waterproof, and proved it by holding its arms under a shower in front of the cameras.
"We have made a leap towards creating a humanoid that works in a real environment," said the manufacturing company, Kawada Industries, in a joint statement with Kawasaki Heavy Industries and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology.
Coincidence or not, the robot bears a striking resemblance to a "Star Wars" Imperial Stormtrooper, and is able to operate a screwdriver with its right hand, while leaning forward on its left. It not only mimics the human walk, it also balances itself exactly as a human would. "Our country is rapidly aging and it is an urgent task to develop robots that can perform tasks only done by humans now," the statement said. "If a humanoid can substitute human functions, the entire social cost would be reduced," it said.
Soon, robotic applications like those seen in the "iRobot" movie will become a reality, as future robots could take over some human professions, like low-tech construction workers, medical nurses, or, why not, professional wrestlers. "We want to increase the actions that this robot can do at construction sites, such as driving construction vehicles," said project manager Takakatsu Isozumi.
The HRP-3 Promet Mk-II will cost around 15 million yen ($120,000).