Japan Builds Kinect-Powered Seeing-Eye Robot Dog

[Greg Tito]

Japan Builds Kinect-Powered Seeing-Eye Robot Dog

Dogs are obsolete thanks to this new robot guide.

Man's best friend is now finally made of metal, plastic and a Kinect. Dogs have long been used by the visually impaired to guide them in walking down the street and accomplishing tasks, but Japanese robotics corporation SNK has developed a robot that accomplishes the same feat - and it doesn't need to be fed Alpo. The "quadruped walking robot" uses a combination of flexible legs, wheels and a Microsoft Kinect to see. SNK has been working on this baby for years - this is their third version - but some work still needs to be done before I'd trust a robot to help my blind Aunt Sue cross the road.


The latest version highlighted in the video above moves ten times faster than the last one made by SNK roboticists. If that's true, then those old robots must have taken a heck of a long time to get anywhere.

I'm not sure why watching this video gives me chills. The herky-jerky movement of the "robot" is terrifying, yes, but I think what really bothers me is that yet another task once performed well by organics is relegated to a bunch of lifeless nuts and bolts with no soulllll - ~~~*** GS&S(*@)

I accept and revere our robot overlords. Hail Machinus!

Source: NY Times [http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/08/japanese-company-developing-robotic-guide-dog/]



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[TimeLord]

I'm disappointed. This so called future technology looks nothing like what I was promised;

 

[kouriichi]

He was blind! No reason to make him Deaf too! D:

 

[ryo02]

wiiir clk wiiir clk wiiir clk ... nice to see they solved the problem of blind people not being able to find it.

 

[Lunar Templar]

from a technological stand point, sweet, but wouldn't it be better to work on cybernetic eye replacements in stead of this? seems like the better solution

 

[Nocturnal Gentleman]

I prefer a living, feeling animal that I can bond with rather then some noisy metal mess. That's just me though.

 

[SidingWithTheEnemy]

I prefer a living, feeling animal that I can bond with rather then some noisy metal mess. That's just me though.

At least you don't have to teach that thing where to crap.

Seriously, Robot Dogs?
I want freaking mech-warriors.

 

[Nocturnal Gentleman]

I prefer a living, feeling animal that I can bond with rather then some noisy metal mess. That's just me though.

At least you don't have to teach that thing where to crap.

Seriously, Robot Dogs?
I want freaking mech-warriors.

You can get dogs that are already well trained so that isn't that much of an issue. Besides I'd rather they focus on building amazing cyborg bodies rather then making my animal fake. Hell, then you wouldn't need a helper anything.

 

[funksobeefy]

this looks a lot slower and a hell of lot noisier then a blind person with a perfectly trained lab.

Not to mention there is no personality in this robot, a dog can be a best friend, a robot will never be.

 

[Icehearted]

I love that Japan can take a decidedly American thing and make it so much cooler. "Motion controlled dancing shovelware?! We made a seeing-eye robot, bitches!"

They.... they'd probably leave out the "bitches" part of that...

 

[Ruairi iliffe]

from a technological stand point, sweet, but wouldn't it be better to work on cybernetic eye replacements in stead of this? seems like the better solution

This. we are progressing really fast to more compact and Detailed ocular implants this tech is already becoming redundant, I could understand this kinda could be aimed at people who disaprove of Implants, But then who wants *that* beside you all day.

You'd be glad you where blind, mostly.

 

[Jedoro]

Awesome, but until it can kill I'll take a real dog.

 

[Smooth Operator]

Uber high tech robot outperformed by a stick, seriously this is the worst use of a robot dog... sofar (because I just know someone is thinking of robo-bestiality right now)

 

[Baby Tea]

Awesome, but until it can kill I'll take a real dog.

I'm not sure how it would kill...unless it purposely led someone off a cliff.
But that'd be the worst killer seeing eye dog ever.

More on topic: The idea is great, the execution needs work.
While I agree a dog is a better 'companion', someone with allergies, or who is deathly afraid of dogs, or who lives in a place where dogs aren't permitted, could benefit from something like this.

 

[Tortilla the Hun]

I love that Japan can take a decidedly American thing and make it so much cooler. "Motion controlled dancing shovelware?! We made a seeing-eye robot, bitches!"

They.... they'd probably leave out the "bitches" part of that...

I could imagine a representative of SNK walking into a US importing company, slapping a business proposal onto their desk and saying "Konnichiwa, bitches!"

from a technological stand point, sweet, but wouldn't it be better to work on cybernetic eye replacements in stead of this? seems like the better solution

I think Japan is waiting for the rest of the world to pull their heads out of their asses so they can really see the things they're capable of.

 

[MirkoP]

from a technological stand point, sweet, but wouldn't it be better to work on cybernetic eye replacements in stead of this? seems like the better solution

The truth of this made me laugh and sob in the same time...

 

[Mrmac23]

Yet more proof that the Japanese are both completely insane and really freaking awesome.