Creepy Japanese Robot Can Really Dance

Greg Tito

PR for Dungeons & Dragons
Sep 29, 2005
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Creepy Japanese Robot Can Really Dance

Japanese robotics experts from AIST demonstrated the HRP-4C android dancing with human counterparts and the performance is impressive, if still a bit hard to watch.

The HRP-4C is clearly a native of Uncanny Valley, but this performance at the Digital Content Expo in Tokyo isn't terrible. The robot dances and sways to the awful J Pop song, backed by a quartet of real humans whose choreography doesn't quite match up but at least complements the movements of the HRP-4C. The performance took over a year of preparations by the robot's creators and Japanese choreographer, SAM-san. Without further ado, I present to you: Dance Robot LIVE! - HRP-4C Cybernetic Human.


Humans have been searching for a machine that can pass as one of them for a long time. From Homer's The Iliad, which describes the Greek god Hephaestus being aided by "golden maidservants" in the crafting of Achilles' armor to the modern nerd's affection for Lieutenant Data on Star Trek The Next Generation, such androids have long been a fascination. While robotics has moved forward in the 21st century so that we are unfazed by them building our cars or one cleaning our floors [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQ-jv8g1YVI], unfortunately, the technology to recreate lifelike movement in human-shaped robots hasn't been so successful. That doesn't mean that roboticists have stopped trying, and the HRP-4C is just another step closer.

Wait, we have an incoming transmission ... brch ... For the love of Pete, somebody stop them! Not only will the robot overlords attack us with machine guns and nuclear weapons, but they will also dance us to death with freakishly long hands and jerky movements. No one is safe while they are allowed to manufacture HRP-4Cs. There are thousands of them. Thous--- ... brchcchhhhhhh ...

Transmission ends.

Source: Pink Tentacle [http://pinktentacle.com/2010/10/dance-of-the-hrp-4c-cybernetic-human/]



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Icehearted

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Jul 14, 2009
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So tell me, HRP-4C, are you by chance a 'pleasure model'?

Oh hell, I made myself shudder :(
 

KEM10

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Oct 22, 2008
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This will make doing the robot at the clubs a little easier. Thank you AIST.
 

Kevlar Eater

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Sep 27, 2009
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The sooner they start walking at speeds similar to humans and capable of using opposable thumbs, the sooner the demise of humanity.

Oh, a hive mind would also be needed, but we (hopefully) aren't that dumb.
 

Ekonk

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Apr 21, 2009
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Japan, why don't you do something useful with your robotics. This is stupid, and kind of scary.
 

ANImaniac89

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Apr 21, 2009
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DEAR GOD KILL IT WITH FIRE!!!!

I really can't put into human words the sheer terror I feel when I look into its dead soulless eyes and I know that the end has begun.
Soon those dead eyes will be staring us down the end of a gun barrel, as the cleansing of the organic starts
 

CrystalShadow

don't upset the insane catgirl
Apr 11, 2009
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Icehearted said:
So tell me, HRP-4C, are you by chance a 'pleasure model'?

Oh hell, I made myself shudder :(
Lol. Well, somehow it does not strike me as being anatomically correct. ;p

So it depends on what you mean by 'pleasure'.

Still, they're starting to get somewhere with robotics aren't they?

The future might actually happen. XD
 

Harlemura

Ace Defective
May 1, 2009
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They sort out the hands, legs and make the movement smoother and robots will be blending in more than... some regular person.
Yeah. Points. I'm so good at getting them across.
 

Fishtie

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Sep 19, 2010
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That was quite creepy, I mean who would actually want to dance to such a terrible song?

I'm sure there was something else I wanted to say, but I'm too distracted by the fact that the backup dancers have tunics that are way too short and not really secured...
 

Baby Tea

Just Ask Frankie
Sep 18, 2008
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Icehearted said:
So tell me, HRP-4C, are you by chance a 'pleasure model'?
Lame.

I love that episode. Just hilarious.

More on topic: It's creepy, yet intriguing all that the same time. This has got to be the smoothest robot movement I've ever seen. And then they put a woman's head on it and a dress, and it got really awkward. Still: Very cool tech.
 

Wintermoot

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Aug 20, 2009
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and now serious
I wonder if she can do the robot
PS that looks kinda scary and weird like something from a sci-fi movie this dips REALY deep in the uncanny valley
PPS the movements look realy smooth with technology like this you could make a robot servant (think something like Robotic butlers)I hope this doesnt end like Terminator or The Matrix
 

Mr.Mattress

Level 2 Lumberjack
Jul 17, 2009
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The face was a bit weird, but other that, I was not effected by the Uncanny Valley effect. Other then that, I don't care about Dancing Robots. Make a sentient Robot, and then I'll give a huge damn.
 

Tharwen

Ep. VI: Return of the turret
May 7, 2009
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Oh god... the hands...

Why did they do that to her hands?!

Actually, it wasn't bad for a robot, but seriously... those hands...
 

Weaver

Overcaffeinated
Apr 28, 2008
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I wouldn't really call what it's doing dancing. It's slightly wobbling while waving it's arms in circles. Maybe this constitutes a dance in Japan, what do I know?