:HRP-4C
{{Short description|Feminine-looking humanoid robot}}
The HRP-4C, nicknamed Miim, is a feminine-looking humanoid robot created by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), a Japanese research facility.
Miim measures 158 centimetres (5 feet, 2 inches) tall and weighs 43 kilos (95 pounds) including a battery pack. She has a realistic head and face, and the figure of an average young Japanese female (based on the 1997–1998 Japanese body dimension database). She can move like a human, utilizing 30 body motors and another eight dedicated to facial expressions. Miim can also respond to speech using speech recognition software, and is capable of recognizing ambient sounds.{{cite web|url=http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/fashion-robot-to-hit-japan-catwalk-20090316-8zuv.html|title=Fashion robot to hit Japan catwalk|publisher=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=2009-03-16|access-date=2010-07-25|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101208031921/http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/fashion-robot-to-hit-japan-catwalk-20090316-8zuv.html|archive-date=2010-12-08}} Miim can also sing, using the vocal synthesizer Vocaloid.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}
The software that operates the robot is developed on the basis of Open Robotics Platform (OpenRTP), including OpenRTM-aist and OpenHRP3.{{cite web|url=http://www.aist.go.jp/aist_e/latest_research/2009/20090513/20090513.html|work=National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)|title=Successful Development of a Robot with Appearance and Performance Similar to Humans|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110323164504/http://www.aist.go.jp/aist_e/latest_research/2009/20090513/20090513.html|archive-date=2011-03-23}}
An initial public demonstration was held on March 16, 2009,{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7946780.stm |title=Science & Environment | Life-like walking female robot |publisher=BBC News |date= March 16, 2009|accessdate=2009-03-17}} with another held at Tokyo's Digital Content Expo in 2010 to showcase recent upgrades that allow HRP-4C to mimic human facial and head movements, as well as execute dance steps.{{Cite web|url=http://ascii.jp/elem/000/000/563/563034/|title = 歌って踊れるようになった女性型ロボット「HRP-4C」 (1/3)}}Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/xcZJqiUrbnI Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20101020051149/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcZJqiUrbnI&feature=player_embedded Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite AV media| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcZJqiUrbnI| title = HRP-4C Dance 1/2 | website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} 2011 upgrades to Miim's human-like walking ability were shown in a video released by AIST, and have been called "super-realistic".{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/11/11/video-super-realistic-hrp-4c-humanoid-walks-like-human/|title = Video: Super-Realistic HRP-4C Humanoid Walks Like Human| date=11 November 2011 }}
Applications for the HRP-4C may include the entertainment industry, and a human simulator for evaluation of devices.
Vocal capabilities
Image:Vocaloid + HRP-4C Miim collaboration (clip), Yamaha booth, CEATEC JAPAN 2009.jpg software Megpoid
(CEATEC JAPAN 2009)]]
HRP-4C was shown at the CEATEC JAPAN 2009 Festival in June 2009, and its speaking and singing capabilities were displayed.{{cite web|last=Kazumichi|first=Moriyama|title=「HRP-4C 未夢」が「初音ミク」姿で歌う、ヤマハと産総研がコラボ|url=http://robot.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/20091006_319867.html|publisher=Robot Watch|accessdate=29 December 2012|language=Japanese|date=10 June 2009}}{{cite web|url=http://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/0910/08/news107.html|title=新VOCALOID「CV-4Cβ」、CEATECで歌う 声は中村繪里子さん|trans-title=The New Vocaloid "CV-4Cβ" Sings at CEATEC. The Vocal Comes from Eriko Nakamura|publisher=IT Media|date=October 8, 2009|accessdate=July 24, 2010|language=Japanese}}
Also, HRP-4C was shown singing and dancing to "Deatta Koro no Yō ni" by Every Little Thing alongside human performers at the Digital Content Expo, 2009.{{cite web |title=Robots--HRP-4C |url=https://robotsguide.com/robots/hrp4c |website=RobotsGuide |publisher=IEEE |access-date=January 18, 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Toto |first1=Serkan |title=Digital Contents Expo Tokyo: Cybernetic human robot HRP-4C demo (2 videos) |url=https://techcrunch.com/2009/10/25/digital-contents-expo-tokyo-cybernetic-human-robot-hrp-4c-demo-2-videos/ |website=TechCrunch |publisher=TechCrunch |access-date=January 18, 2024}}
For speaking, it uses a prototype Vocaloid voicebank called CV-4Cβ, developed by Crypton Future Media. CV-4Cβ's vocal provider was Eriko Nakamura, and Crypton's commercial plans for the voicebank are unknown as of December 2012. It was also shown "cosplaying" as Hatsune Miku and could sing using the Miku voicebank. At this demonstration, it was able to move its head and lips in time with the music, but could not move other parts of its body. It could also use another Vocaloid voicebank named Megpoid.
See also
References
{{Reflist|}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20090427160702/http://www.thetechnologyblog.net/archives/japanese-robot-hrp-4c-cybernetic-human/japanese-technology Features and cost]
- [http://www.generalrobotix.com/en/index.htm General Robotix, Inc]
- [http://www.physorg.com/news/2010-10-japans-robot-video.html Japan's new female singing robot]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110323164504/http://www.aist.go.jp/aist_e/latest_research/2009/20090513/20090513.html National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology's page on the HRP-4C] {{in lang|en}}
- [http://www.aist.go.jp/aist_j/press_release/pr2009/pr20090316/pr20090316.html National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology's page on the HRP-4C] {{in lang|ja}}
- {{YouTube|id=xcZJqiUrbnI|title=HRP-4C Dance}}
- {{YouTube|id=NGYV15NYDRM|title=HRP-4C 2.0 ON MARS VIRTUAL PROGRAM}}
{{Androids}}
{{Humanoid robots}}
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