Korean Robots
P L Y O J U M P
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The KHR project, led by Korea Advanced Institute of
Science and Technology (KAIST) professor Oh Jun-ho, has produced
a series of robots on the way to a practical humanoid. Like the Japanese
program, this looks like a long-term, serious program to develop humanoid
robots. The robotic software is comparable to Japanese
humanoids, but hardware is a few years behind - but still ahead of
anything in the US. |
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This is the UPostmate robot, currently planned for deployment in Korean
postal stations. In this example, the robot is throwing a spider-man-type
net to ensare someone trying to rob the postal office - a real RoboCop! |
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This Korean robot named Ara was featured showing off its voice recognition
at the Soft Expo 2005 in Seoul. |
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Remote-Brained Robot |
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KAIST is developing a "remote-brained" robot - meaning it is connected
to a central server whose computing capacity may be expanded.
You Bum-Jae, of the South Korea Science and Technology
Institution, announced this robot as the first "remote brain" network
robot (not actually true, there have been similar experiments in Japan.
The as yet nameless robot is 150-centimeters tall, weighs 67 weight, and
has a range of three kilometers. The robot apparently does primary
processing of sound and vision, and then sends its "preception" to a
central computer, which does actual decision-making.. This allows it to learn and interact using a computer that would be too heavy to
carry. In a demonstration the robot not only recognized a 10,000 won nite,
but applied knowledge to say "this is something people would like to
have." Most likely, this approach is related to the decision by Korea to put
"remote brained" robots into post offices in 2005-2006. Not
clear if this is the same as the HUBO
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KHR-3 (HUBO) |
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The KHR-3 or HUBO debuted in
December 2004. Compared to the KHR-2, it is more streamlined and has
smoother, more natural walking, has fingers instead of claws, voice
recognition, and faster response times.
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KHR-2 |
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A more advanced model based on the KHR-1, the KHR-2 occasionally appeared
in public during 2004. About 4 feet tall and 100 pounds in weight, with
an internal battery that lasts a little more than 1 hour. The developers
at KAIST claim that the system can learn complex physical tasks
including walking up stairs via experience. |
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KHR-1 |
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The KHR-1 was a headless robot body which can walk dynamically in a manner
similar to the Asimo and other Japanese robots.
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Movies of KHR-1
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KHR-1 torso using dynamic balancing
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KHR standing and kneeling
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KHR-1 with no balancing
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KHR-1 walking on a treadmill in July 2003
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 "There is only one condition in which we can imagine
managers not needing subordinates, and masters not needing slaves. This
would be if every machine could work by itself, at the word of command or
by intelligent anticipation."
- Aristotle, from his justification of slavery in Politics |