First space robot asks Santa for rocket for Christmas
 Even robots have a Santa list. The world's first robotic astronaut
has been talking with crew members on-board the International Space
Station about the presents he wants for Christmas. It's all part of an
experiment to improve man-machine communication.
The pint-sized robot called Kirobo is part of a Japanese experiment
to develop a companion for isolated people. Chatting with astronaut
commander Kiochi Wakata, the robot was asked about Christmas presents,
and replied, 'Santa Claus will come to space. I want a toy rocket...
let's ask Santa Claus.' And when the conversation got around to blasting
off into space, Kirobo exclaimed, 'It was exciting!' The robot is 34
centimetres tall and weighs a kilo, and is capable of responding to
human questions, without any pre programmed responses. It is processes
the questions and then chooses words from its vocabulary to form a
proper answer. "What kind of training have you done?" the astronaut "I
was trained to talk to people," answers Kirobo with apparent pride as it
moves its tiny head and legs in red booties.
- RT News |
