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BBC News Online: Sci/Tech


Tuesday, 19 March, 2002, 15:59 GMT

Sony reveals singing robot


SDR-4X, AFP
The SDR-4X can hold simple conversations
Japan's Sony Corporation has unveiled a prototype robot that can sing and dance.

The human-shaped SDR-4X can sing in four-part harmony, shake its hips and wave its arms in tempo.


" This robot will cost as much as one car, a luxury car "
Sony Corporate Executive VP Toshitada Doi

The company says the robot can also recognise faces, voices and names, hold simple conversations and pick itself up when it is pushed over.

But it is an expensive toy that a company executive says will cost as much as a luxury car.

Company officials say they hope the robot will be able to provide entertainment and companionship for its owners.

"This robot was designed to live with people in homes," said Sony Corporate Executive Vice-President Toshitada Doi.

Sony hopes the robot, which is 60 centimetres (24 inches) tall, will come on to the market at the end of the year.

Robot with 'personality'

The creators say the appeal of the SDR-4X is its personality, like Sony's hot-selling Aibo robotic pet, which uses much of the same software.

Aibo, BBC

Drawing from its vocabulary of 60,000 words, an SDR-4X can ask a guest in a high, squeaky voice: "Please hold still for a minute while I memorise your face."

It can also walk on uneven surfaces and come when it is called.

Equipped with two cameras, it can tell the difference between the edge of a table and patterns on the floor - a distinction that was harder for Aibo, with only one camera "eye", to make.

"By inputting music and lyrics data into the robot, it can produce a singing voice with vibrato," Sony said.

The company added that the robot could carry out "complicated, personalised [dancing] performances."


Related to this story:
Robot dog learns its first words (13 Nov 01 | Sci/Tech) Robo-cat is out of the bag (16 Oct 01 | Sci/Tech) Chatty computer wins again (15 Oct 01 | Sci/Tech) Life with a robot dog (11 Sep 01 | Artificial intelligence) Robot pets get domesticated (01 Mar 01 | Sci/Tech) Robofish splash down in Tokyo (16 Mar 00 | Sci/Tech) Timeline: Real robots (10 Sep 01 | Artificial intelligence)


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