Everyone Loves A Robotic Infant, Right You Guys?

Oh yeah, yeah, the kids love it.

For anyone curious enough about the learning curriculum over at Osaka University, look no further than this image post here, to see what they’re all about. Basically, the only thing that their big brains ever work on are terrifying robot babies and I’m afraid to say that it looks like the night terrors won’t be ending anytime soon. In their most recent attempt to drill a nightmare into your head, Osaka University will soon be unveiling two, that’s right two, godforsaken musculoskeletal infant robots, at this year’s ICRA.

The smaller of the two infants is Pneuborn-7II, built to replicate the size of a 7 month old, while its larger sibling, Pneuborn-13, is the size of an average 13 month old. And like the Bible’s Cain and Abel, the two robot infants knew there could be only one. Though similar in construction, the bots were built for two separate functions, to study motor development and the other, skeletal development while learning to walk. Both are scheduled to learn how to break into apartments sometime next week.

Pneuborn-7II was built to study the relationship between motor development and embodiment. It is 80cm (31″) tall, weighs 5.4kg (11.9 lbs), and has 26 degrees of freedom actuated by 19 pneumatic muscles. Notably, the robot’s spine has three pitch and yaw joints that allow it to rotate, flex, and extend. It is fully autonomous, containing a micro controller, battery, air valves, and an air source (compressed C02 cartridge bottle). [PlasticPals]

More terrifying photos with upset children after the jump:

Pneuborn-13 models a 13 month old infant, and was developed to study the effect the musculoskeletal structure itself has on the emergence of bipedal walking. As a result, its 18 pneumatic muscles are concentrated in its ankle, knee, and hip joints. It measures 75cm (29.5″) tall, weighs 3.9kg (8.5 lbs), and has 21 degrees of freedom. Like Pneuborn-7II it is wholly autonomous, and has a similar skeletal structure, but it doesn’t have an actuated spinal column. The robot is able to hold a standing posture and can make stepping motions. [PlasticPals]

By utilizing a learning algorithm, researchers have already been successful in getting Pneuborn-7II to crawl forward -and it’s because of technological leaps like this that I continue to deadbolt the front door at night. First it’s crawling, next thing you know Pneuborn-13 is using your credit card to purchase a katana over the internet. I’m just raising awareness.

Well at least they love cookies.

Annnd for my next trick: complete planetary takeover!

Babies are available in 3 sizes: Stoked, Chill or Emo.

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