Robots Strut and Sell at Japanese Show

YOKOHAMA, JAPAN--Robots at this year's Robodex exhibition here did get their wires crossed--figuratively rather than literally--but failed to rampage as some observers had hoped.

Robodex is billed as the world's only exhibition of entertainment robots. It's just the second time the show has taken place (the previous one was in late 2000), and what a jump robot technology has made since then. Sony had its latest robot, the Sony Dream Robot (SDR) on display, dancing and crooning to some type of Hawaiian beat. Honda Motor's Asimo robot was also out to impress people.

As it walked down the center aisle at the finale of the robot show, Asimo bounced slightly from side to side with one hand waving in the air. In fact, Asimo looked as if it knew it was the man and was out trying to pick up any cute girl-robots that were around. Maybe the scent of flowers left by Posy, the flower-girl robot, stoked Asimo's libido.

Like Asimo, Posy is employed in a marketing role--successfully hawking luxury perfume from Guerlain. The metallic flower girl appears in a series of advertisements for a new perfume; according to the company, sales are up and things are going well. Still looking for work is Guard Robot C4 from Sogo Keibi Hosho, which can work as a receptionist during the day and as a security guard at night.

Mixed Signals Stall Bots

But while the Yokohama exhibition was more successful than ever, the growing use of wireless LAN systems caused problems. The wireless LAN channels used to control the robots were assigned before the show; but at show time, some signals leaked onto the show floor and confused the mechanical critters.

Had this been an episode of The Simpsons, the robots might have gone nuts, attacked people, and demolished the building while Bart sat outside with his laptop chuckling. Luckily, life proved to be much more prosaic. A few of the robots refused to move, and one needed a push start to get going. Signs everywhere warned journalists to disable the wireless LANs on their notebook computers and asked visitors to deactivate the Bluetooth functions on their mobile phones. But the renegade signals continued.

At least this was an exhibition, not a contest. Another robot event, the International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence, involves competition among robotic teams for the RoboCup. The tests range from working as mechanical waiters, to search-and-rescue simulations that may eventually have real-life applications.

Less Form, More Function?

Not all of the robots were humanoid. Sony's prototype Q-Taro, which reacts to its surroundings, is a glowing colored sphere about 7 inches in diameter.

Sony describes the device as a "healing creature" designed to foster an emotional connection between humans and robot technology. The Q-Taro's infrared sensors can detect the presence of a person and activate the unit, and its audio sensors enable it to roll around the floor in time to music. Sony has no immediate plans to market the Q-Taro. The company's four-footed Aibos digital dogs, however, are available in several robotic generations.

Bluetooth also appeared in a line of less personable but potentially more practical robots introduced at the show. Toshiba has embedded the wireless system in a range of home appliances, including a refrigerator, a washing machine, and a microwave oven. A home controller, which looks something like a tablet PC, is used to operate the devices.

At least one skeptical consumer wondered why, if you had to walk up to the microwave to put you food inside anyway, you couldn't just use the buttons on the front rather than retreating to the sofa and using your home controller.