DESMA Event #2

            For my second event, I attended one of the lectures that was presented by a robotics researcher and PhD student Masa Jazbec in Fowler Museum, where she does most of her research in Japan. There were many different types of robots and androids that she has presented in lecture that each serves a different purpose. The CNBC robot displays many different facial expressions that humans would express. Many people say that robots lack showing emotion, however, the CNBC does show emotion. But this robot portrays these different expressions by imitating a human. The CB2 robot as well is an example of a robot that displays emotion. CB2 is a child simulating robot that develops over time with different tactile senses such as crying. The most famous robot in the world is the ASIMO. This robot is connected with NASA’s studies and is very useful. ASIMO can run, walk up and down stairs, and has many censors and cameras to develop a better sense of our environment. The censors and cameras are what help the robot do physical activities.

            Towards the end of lecture, two concepts of robots caught my attention the most. DARPA is a robotics challenge created for people to show off their robotics talent. In this challenge, people are inspired to make their own robot that will move and help benefit our environment. For example, ATLAS is a robot made to walk through snow, open doors, lift heavy items to place on shelves, and can get up on its own when he has fallen. Another concept that was most interesting to me was by a professor from Japan who created a copy of himself in robot form known as a “Geminoid”. This robot is not capable to do many things when it is in a noisy environment but can develop over time. I thought the human like features were a little creepy because of how exact they look alike.

A Geminoid robot made exactly like the Professor from Japan.

Proof of attendance, a picture with Masa Jazbec.

The robot ATLAS lifting heavy objects to place on shelves.