New HRP-4 Humanoid Robots From Japan To Go On Sale

An anonymous reader writes "Kawada Industries and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology have unveiled their new humanoid robot, HRP-4. The new humanoid stands 151cm tall and is much thinner than its predecessors. For Japan, HRP-4 is another step forward in creating useful mechanical workers to deal with a forthcoming shortage in the labor force and care for an aging population. HRP-4's creators expect to start selling the robot to universities and other research institutions as early as January 2011 for a price tag of $300,000, which is not that bad for a humanoid." The HRP-4s are a whole $100,000 cheaper than Willow Garage's PR2 (non-humanoid) robots, which became available earlier this month. The difference really adds up when building your robot army. Ron Moore could not be reached for comment.

Have they fixed the medicine problem?

[spun]

If these robots are going to be caring for old people, what will prevent them from stealing old people's medicine? [hulu.com]

Re:Cue the sleazy wah wah guitar

[Anonymous Coward]

HRP-4. Hmm... HeRPes-simplex4? Scary. Don't think you can practice safe sex with this robot.

Re:Should of been built like the Terminator

[Locke2005]

It's programmed to detect people trying to upset it's balance, and then kick them in the balls. Hard. Sure, it falls over, but you'll never try that shit again, I guarantee ya!

Re:Should of been built like the Terminator

[Spatial]

Will you be able to compensate? You just knocked over 300,000 dollars of hardware.

Re:Humanoid Robots are great and all

[Locke2005]

Sadly, Davros's invasion force was stymied when it came across the first set of stairs, and failed miserably. Meanwhile, my invasion force using the HRP-4 went on to become a huge hit on Broadway!

Re:Not sure...

[mcgrew]

Yeah, but those "real dolls" would be a lot more fun if they'd actually move like a real woman. Plus, they won't clean the house or do the laundry. Women are good for a lot more than sex, you know.

I doubt cuddling with a "real doll" while watching a non-pornographic movie would be very fun. And if all you want is sex, crack whores are better than any sex toys.

I don't always HRP-4....

[Mayhem178]

but when I do, I DRP-4.

Thou Misseth Ye Olde Pointe By Ye Longe Fur.

[fyngyrz]

On the whole, I think I'd rather hire an au pair girl.

If the Robot does the dishes and the floors and etc., then neither you nor your lady have to do it, and thusly, get to spend more time exploring the various corners of your sexual identities.

This does, of course, require a ladyfriend, and this is, of course, slashdot, so perhaps I'm being overly optimistic.

Re:Robot soldiers are a BAD idea

[Anonymous Coward]

So, you prefer to reduce that percentage by diluting the civilian deaths with additional soldier deaths? o.0