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Follow the Leader Inventor: Toshiba Corp Availability: Prototype only To Learn More: www.toshiba.co.jp/about/press/ 2005_05/pr2001.htm Robots may not invade anytime soon, but there's no denying that they're getting smarter. The ball-shaped ApriAlpha uses advanced voice-recognition technology to distinguish between voices coming from different locations. When Alpha hears a voice, it fixes its steely digital-camera eye on the person speaking. The taller ApriAttenda can identify a person in a crowd by the color of his clothes and shape of his body, and then follow its target. It even bleeps when it loses track...
Turtle Dance Inventor: Takara Availability: Now, only in Japan; about $12 each To Learn More: takaratoys.co.jp (Japanese only) It's small, it's cute and it sashays across your desk, tail wriggling. To program Walkie Bits, simply tap its shell with your finger. It can remember and mimic a rhythmic pattern of up to 15 clicks. In song mode, it bleep-bleeps Leopold Mozart's Toy Symphony. But the most fun you can have with these tiny turtle robots is to race them against each other. In basic walk mode, the Walkie Bits' pace is unpredictable, so you never know...
Cool Cat Inventor: Philips Research, Eindhoven, the Netherlands Availability: Prototypes for research only To Learn More: www.hitech-projects.com/icat The notion of robot as home companion is nothing new, but iCat adds a human dimension to the job: an expressive face. Tell her to go away, and iCat will look sad. Praise her, and she will beam. Internal microphones can be used to record sounds and assist with speech recognition-iCat is multilingual-and 13 electric motors move her eyes, eyebrows, eyelids, mouth and head to produce the appropriate emotional response. iCat can also connect to the Net and display online...
...Nuvo, Sit Inventor: ZMP Inc. Availability: Now, starting at $7,000 To Learn More: nuvo.jp Tired of coming home to an empty nest each night? Try Nuvo. This 15-in., two-legged bot can dance, talk, play music, tell time and even shake your hand. It can respond to 40 simple commands (like "Nuvo, let's dance") in a Japanese-accented female voice and take pictures with the Cyclops lens mounted on its head. The 15 motorized joints in its body allow Nuvo to perform tricks like headstands and head rolls, as well as to roam freely around the house...
Dancing Machine Inventor: Tohoku University, Nomura Unison Group, TroisO Co. Ltd. Availability: Prototype only To Learn More: www.irs.mech.tohoku.ac.jp/top.html With a face modeled on Marilyn Monroe's and a long, flowing skirt to hide its three wheels, the Partner Ballroom Dance Robot is a 5-ft. 5-in. waltzing humanoid. Available in hot pink or blue, it has upper-body sensors that allow it to "predict" its partner's next steps. Dancing is just one application. "By interpreting users' movements to estimate what they want, care robots will be able to provide better service for the elderly...