Aye, robot? Amazingly lifelike humanoid that can react to facial expressions, engage in conversation and even make eye contact
- Robot has been drawing crowds at Hong Kong electronics event this week
- It can recognise and respond to human facial expressions in natural way
- Known as Ham, the head was designed by US firm Hanson Robotics
- Made using soft-bodied mechanical engineering and nanotechnology
With his lively eyebrows, winkled cheeks and eyes that follow you around the room - this state-of-the-art robotic head is menacingly lifelike.
The humanoid, known as Ham, has been drawing in crowds with his incredible range of facial expressions at an electronics event in Hong Kong this week.
The head, designed by American robotics designer David Hanson, is able to answer basic questions and can also be used in the simulation of medical scenarios.
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Incredibly lifelike: Known as Ham, this humanoid is made using specialised software and can recognise and respond to facial expressions
Ham is currently on exhibit at the Global Sources spring electronics show at AsiaWorld Expo - the largest event of its kind in the world, with more than 4,000 booths displaying the latest gadgets.
The head is created with malleable material called Frubber using soft-bodied mechanical engineering and nanotechnology.
It contains realistic pores that measure just 4 to 40 nanometers across (there are 10million nanometers in one centimetre).
Using specialised software the machine can recognise and respond to a number of human facial expressions in a natural way.
According to Hanson Robotics's website, the humanoids can actually see your face, make eye contact with you, and understand speech to 'engage you in witty dialogue'.
Such reactions are a major feat of engineering, according to chief designer David Hanson, the founder and and president of Hanson Robotics.
Reactive: The robot smiles using multiple motors - which whir into action and subtly adjust multiple points of articulation around his mouth and brown eyes
State-of-the-art: The head is created with malleable material using soft-bodied mechanical engineering and nanotechnology. It contains realistic pores that measure just 4 to 40 nanometers across (there are 10million nanometers in one centimetre)
It is not the first human-looking robot that his firm has created either. An earlier version of Ham drew headlines as it was sculpted to look like Albert Einstein, complete with a bushy moustache and a shock of white hair.
The Einstein humanoid made facial expressions by using multiple motors - which whir into action and subtly adjust multiple points of articulation around his mouth and brown eyes.
Mr Hanson sees robotics as his calling and works on many fronts, from sculpting features to developing artificial intelligence.
To advance to the next step of producing robots for everyday applications in entertainment, health care and education, he decided to move to Hong Kong with his family - his wife Amanda and their son Zeno.
The city has a booming robotics community with a high amount of expertise and design infrastructure and new technology can be developed at a lower cost than in the US.
Leading designer: Mr Hanson sees robotics as his calling and works on many fronts, from sculpting features to developing artificial intelligence
On show: Ham is currently on exhibit at the Global Sources spring electronics show at AsiaWorld Expo - the largest event of its kind in the world
Previous model: The Einstein robot, which made its public debut at the Technology, Entertainment and Design conference in the U.S in 2009, was developed at the University of California (UC)
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