BEIJING: A humanoid robot has blown away audiences with its ability to convey realistic expressions at Beijing’s Global Mobile Internet Conference
‘Yangyang’ the robot is modelled on one of the researchers who helped develop the technology, and can blink, smile, shake hands, and even hug her human doppelganger.
The robots are made of a special type of silica gel, replicating the feeling of human skin to the touch.
Yangyang is the fourth robot produced by Shanghai Shenqing Industry and the first one inside China.
she is modelled after one of the company’s researchers, Song Yang.
‘At present this robot has the most features, she has 43 degrees of freedom across her whole body, most of them are concentrated on the face, because of this, her expressions can be very varied,’ Song said.
Song said having a robot made in your spitting image was a bit of a novel experience.
‘After they made one of me, I got all these really amazing feelings. For instance her, for example, because I feel it’s like me, if when she’s performing her movements, expressions are not ideal, if she doesn’t do it well, I’ll feel it’s a real shame,’ she said.
Currently Yangyang has to be controlled remotely, with sensors placed on a human who is moving behind the scenes and directing her expressions.
The team behind Yangyang believe future robots like her could be used as sales assistants, or body doubles for celebrities.
