She doesn't have the grace of a Cindy Crawford or Elle MacPherson (yet), but a few struts on the catwalk may help HRP-4C loosen up and hit her stride.Scientists from Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology reportedly designed the 5-foot (ish), dark-haired creation to look like an average Japanese woman between the ages of 19 to 29. Unlike the average Japanese woman, however, HRP-4C has 30 motors in its body that allow it to walk and move its arms (loudly and awkwardly, if the video below is any indication) and eight facial motors for blinking, smiling, and expressing emotions akin to anger and surprise.
According to the Associated Press, the robotic framework for the HRP-4C, sans face and other coverings, will sell for about US$200,000, and the technology behind it will eventually be made public so people can come up their own moves for the bot.
The government-backed AIST says she's mostly being developed for the entertainment industry--for use in amusement parks, for example, or as an exercise teacher--and is not yet ready to help with daily chores. So unfortunately for those eager to hire HRP-4C as a home or office assistant, for now at least, her main job is to look pretty--or odd, depending on your perspective.
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