My Female Android Robot Project Update.

[Ai-bot]

My Female Android Robot Project Update.

Hello everyone.

As you know there are a few female android prototypes in the market  or seen at the convention show.
However, the androids are very simple because they can't walk, and some are simply pre-recorded voice
or very simple AI.

I want to be the first to make an advance android female robot that can walk with AI that can interact with people
and the surrounding( That is my dream)

If it works GREAT, and if it does NOT work ...life goes on with a large credit card debt.

Short form spec for the android.

Pro:

Project Name: Project Aiko
Code Name: Aiko
Height: 153 cm
Weight: still adding more hardware
camera: 3 cameras with 3ccd
battery: MN-polymer
Mainboard: C7 with 8Gig solid state.
Sensors: 12 sensors (max 16)
DOF: 30
Software: Sandai (advance version)

Con:
Haven't figured out the center of gravity for large android yet..
CPU and memory intensive
Must connect to the internet to get data from our server.
(Can run without connecting to our server, but action are limited)

Aiko body was custom made from implant silicone from head to toe, therefore, it looks and feels as close as a female human.
The body is now being re-done and re-designed with our new specification to make it looks more female like with a slimmer body and lighter weight.

I am hoping to have a demo video sometimes this week.
In the mean time, I have upload the pictures.




I put the picture behind the black background, because I thought it looks better.
p.s. If you have any suggestions, please post it here or email or PM me.

Thank

[Nyx]

I think the biggest problem at this time with "human-like" robots is the actuators. They always seem overly bulky, too slow or too weak, and people never have enough to give the robot a smooth movement. What do you plan to use in that respect?

[Ai-bot]

I think the biggest problem at this time with "human-like" robots is the actuators. They always seem overly bulky, too slow or too weak, and people never have enough to give the robot a smooth movement. What do you plan to use in that respect?


I total agree with you, I read somewhere can:t really remember where.... Honda Asimio spent 100US million in research for their first prototype version. And it still doesn't walk naturally like human.

As for me this is my basement work using my credit card as a budget there is a limit of what I can do.
Everything is done by hand, including sewing metal steel, which takes 5 hours when I could have done
in 5 sec if I had the equipment. ( I have been doing research for university 11 years, they have all the equipment I needed in lab)
But working at home is another story for the last two years.

Anyway, for your informations. I use...

Some Sony motors, Some Hitec 805, Some Kondo servo, Some mircro servo, Some SSP150 which give about 550Kg.com

Certain motors and servo are put in certain places.
The strong torque is put in the hip and ankles. 550kg.com
The Med torque is put in the Arm and knee. 120kg.com
The low torque is put in the mouth and hand. 25kg.com


My software is used to control the motor and servo. It is OK, not the greastest but it gets the job done.
I will upload the video sometimes this week...


I hope that help.

[Admin]

What city in Japan do you live in? (in case Im ever in the area )

Do you CAD your biped?

[Ai-bot]

Hi

Update June 19/07

Here is some more pictures.
There is a lot of screws around her head, but lucky she has hair to cover them.
The glass is going to be polarized lens. To make the vision clearer and to make the
camera vision see better.

[maverick monk]

Why exactly do you have a womans head on your desk? lol, it looks a bit too lifelike.... nioce job on it, so, the eyes are were the cameras are? they look real.

[Ai-bot]

"What city in Japan do you live in? (in case Im ever in the area Tongue)
Do you CAD your biped?"


I was raised in Omiya.... which is about 30 minutes drive from Tokyo.

I am what you called a mad scientist.
I don:t believe any documentation, No  blue print, No paperwork, No Cad.
I have build 12+ large robots (main robots) none of which has any documentation or blue print...

Even the software has NO documentation.
The software is about 3Gig and I think I have about 15 lines of comments.
The typical variable name I used are....
X, X1,X2, A1,A2,AA1,AA2,AAA1,AAA2  etc...

Yes, I know. I am a bad programmer and a bad engineer.
It was a bad habit started when I was young, but I am so use to it.

I just build as I go along....which is probably not a good idea, but I have been doing that since I was a kid.

The software and the hardware die with me.
Even if someone has my source code, they would not understand it.

I spent 11 years in university with 246 credits (which is about 82 courses)
I think I bought No more than 10 textbooks.

Back when I was still in university... my lab partner called me mad chemist.
And I make my professors go crazy because of lack of notes, and documentations.

[Admin]

 

(I think the engineer in me just died of shock)

[Nyx]

Well, just in case you do achieve something interesting, it would be nice to have *some* documentation, so that it doesn't all die with you. Unless you expect Aiko to continue your work

[maverick monk]

*star trek flashback* i would swear that was data's daughters name (if you could call her his daughter)

[sotu]

A question about the cameras: You cant actually get the pupils moving right? Good job thought, it looks really cool! But a robot like that is quit much money right? I mean all does servos/motors and the electrician must cost a little to. And if i dident read to fast through it you got the "skin" special made from Japan?
One last question  Who's "we"? You kept on saying "we". Some kind of buddys u have been working with or other engineers teaming together?

[Eco19R]

Ai-bot you clearly have great skill so don't take this as an insult but -

Am I the only one who finds this thing a little creepy?

[Ai-bot]

"Am I the only one who finds this thing a little creepy?"

Yes, at night time !!!!
When I walk around at night and Aiko sees me... it will say "hello master"
It scare the heck out of me.

Sometimes when I sleeping.... I hear Aiko talking...  sound like a ghost talking, then I remember it was only Aiko.
Before what I do is... have Aiko login to online chat  and chat with other people (interact with other people).
(This is how Aiko learn how to speech... build up her volcabury and sentences) I still have to double check the next day.
(she has the brain of a 10 years old... nothing fancy.)

Now I just turn Aiko OFF when I go to sleep....because it start to get scary.

Now I only turn her ON when I go to work in the morning.... have her interact with the surround including my two dogs.


"Who's "we"?

There is NO such thing as "we" only  I, me  and myself.
When I was younger my english teacher told me that it is more polite to use "we" instead "I".
So now when I write I use "we"



This is the download fall..... camera and eyes.
Aiko has two eyes obviously...
Only one eye has the camera, the other eye is fake.
Why...... because I am running low on money. So she only has one real eye.
It is a Matsushita lens with 3ccd.

 ( the software can handle 9 camera)
But aiko only has a total of three camera.
1 in head
1 in chest
1 in hand/arm.


The project naming and meaning.

Overall Project Name
SANDAI: System automation network diverse artificial intelligence

Software running Name
BRAINS: Bio Robot Artificial Intelligence Neural System

Hardware (Android Name)
Aiko: "Love child"   japanese meaning for aiko name.


I hope that clear some of the questions you may have.

[hazzer123]

(she has the brain of a 10 years old... nothing fancy.)

WHAT? i thought that the latest and best AI in the world could only equal like a 4 year old? HAHA "nothing fancy".

If all this is true then you are doing great man.

Just how can you afford all the custom silicon body/head and yet you are stuggling to pay for a camera?

[Ai-bot]

"Just how can you afford all the custom silicon body/head and yet you are stuggling to pay for a camera?"


I hope you know what is a 3ccd camera with digital output.

I paid about $900+ tax for each camera.
So, if I were to buy 9 3ccd cameras it will cost me $8000+   (don't forget the tax too!!!)

A good decent 3ccd camera is NOT cheap. I only buy three camera because money is running low.
I do not use cheap webcam.... the only time I use a webcam is for smaller robot like modifed kondo robot.


"WHAT? i thought that the latest and best AI in the world could only equal like a 4 year old? HAHA "nothing fancy"."

That is the problem with android. It doesn't matter how advance the AI talking is.... it will never be like human, because it does NOT
have feeling. Normal talking conversation Aiko can understand you and talk back to you, but when you start to tell ie. Jokes.... she
does not understand you.

Basically, Head is almost the way I wanted it to be.
But for the body and the leg..... it is still a long way to finish. (Need to save money to buy more parts that is what stopping me from going fast)

I will try to get a demo video sometimes this week, and send out to company and hopefullly get some sponsor...

[Eco19R]

I wish I had the kind of bucks you have to spend on this stuff 

[maverick monk]

even if she (omg, not it, SHE) has no emotion, if I understand you correctly she LEARNS by herself, through interacting with others. I may be naive but isnt that a major breakthrue?
edit: Data's daughter was named Lal, nvm

[Eco19R]

lol she....

[Admin]

I guess since we are on the subject of skin for robots . . . I have done such a thing before and have pics . . . is there a big demand for a tutorial? Its kind of expensive, like $50 per pound of skin . . .

[Nyx]

I guess since we are on the subject of skin for robots . . . I have done such a thing before and have pics . . . is there a big demand for a tutorial? Its kind of expensive, like $50 per pound of skin . . .

I think it could be nice to diversity the kinds of things you cover in your tutorials, and well, encourage people to try to build androids, cause it's only by trying that things eventually become possible

[Tsukubadaisei]

Subarashii kikaku da to omoimasu! Hada to body no seisaku ha donata ni tanomareta no desu ka?
Homepage gurai no mono ha arimasu ka?
Watashi ha Tsukubadai no Roshia no ryuugakusei 2 nensei de, yoroshiku onegaishimasu. Sore de ha o ganbari kudasai!

I asked him about the skin(who is making it) and if he has a homepage. Sorry, I like speaking with people in their mother language.
 

[ed1380]

WOOOOOW. AWESOME.
Dude that's alot of work done, and alot of money. but seeing how you've done alot, you'll get a sponsor no problem

Kak dela?

[Ai-bot]

Hi

Yes, Aiko has some learning capacity.
Example.

This is Mike.
Aiko how old is Mike.
Aiko replay: I don:t know.
Aiko Mike is 47 years old.
Aiko how old is Mike.
Akiko replay: Mike is 47 years old.

It has its own internal memory to keep track new data for learning capacity.
The download fall, is that Aiko only has 8Gig internal memory.
After the OS and the software, Aiko only has 1 Gig of internal memory for learning.
Which is not much.

"Dude that's alot of work done, and alot of money. but seeing how you've done alot, you'll get a sponsor no problem"

Actually, finding a sponsor is very hard because they required a lot of paper works before they even look at your project.
As you already know, my writing skill is very poor, not to mention my lousy speaking ability.
After university, it was very hard for me to find a job, because I was pretty much MUTE during all my interview jobs.

If you know any company that would sponsor me, please let me know, they can come to my place for demostration.


To: Tsukubadaisei

Konnichiwa Tsukubadaisei-san

Yes, I am working on a website. Hopefully it will be up next week, including my other projects.
I need to do one demo on the head before I will upload the website.
I just need to modified the software to work with the new camera.
Before I was using a sony camera, but now I switch to Matsushita.
Skin: sorry due to contract, I can not say until it is finalized.

Regards

[Ai-bot]

"A question about the cameras: You cant actually get the pupils moving right?"


No the pupils does NOT move.
Also the eyes does not move, because the camera is there.
I could make the eye blink, but that would cost more money.

Therefore, I only make the upper lips and lower lips move. Also the jaws move.

Right now I am more concerned on the AI and the center of gravity.

I actually, did the video recording yesterday. Just need to edit it, to make the video shorter and compress it.
Probably this weekend I will upload to the server.

[sotu]

What happends when you run out of space on the memory? Will you be able to change it, couse if you do you will lose all the information right? And when it runs out of space you won't be able to learn it any thing new!

[Ai-bot]

"What happends when you run out of space on the memory? Will you be able to change it, couse if you do you will lose all the information right? And when it runs out of space you won't be able to learn it any thing new!"


When it reaches 95%, it will upload to my server.... or as long as there are internet it can transfer the data to my server.
(This function works for all my robots that I make)

If you have watched one of my video, I always ask what is your memory level.
Usually, anything over 90% I start to transfer the data manually. If I forget the internal software automatically transfer at 95%.
(But I never trust automatically, I rather do it manually, because those data are important to me.)
The data are about 1500 Gig..... some of them are duplicated.... one day I will clean up the data base...(the key words is "one day" which probably means never).

If I had the money I would put Four C7 board giving me a total of 24G internal for the robot...this way I don:t have to worry about running out of memory every few day.

Centre of gravity is very important for all my robots, I keep track of very single data.

[Admin]

What exactly do you store in this memory?!? Video/Sound logs?!

[sotu]

How much would a voice recognision cost?

[Ai-bot]

"What exactly do you store in this memory?!? Video/Sound logs?!"

Images, data for movements, new volcabury and the AI logic.

Example. AI logic

My Robot model MP-12 (0.9 meter)..
The robot is walking and suddenly it falls down for no reason.
1) Maybe the hardware failure
or
2) Maybe the software has a bug
or
3) Maybe the Ai logic saw something and react to it.

Most of the time is 3) so I keep the data to check for future references.
(does all my robots do the same thing or just one particular robot etc...)

Example recognize new words or recognize new objects.
It will have to upload to the server, so now all robots will learn the new words and objects.
So the "brains" of the robots are always getting bigger.


What I really want to do is , Have ONE main robot to control all the other robot.
Example.
ONE Head Nurse telling all the other nurses what to do for that particular day.

Of course for me to do this, I need to restructure all my data again. Which is a bit too much for one person with a day time job.
And I need to build more smaller robots.

It would be nice to have funding for the project, but I don:t. So there are some limitations you can do when you don:t have the funding.


I just finished the demo video for Aiko head... should link here today or tomorrow.

[Ai-bot]

"How much would a voice recognision cost?"

Not too sure what you mean, but the cost is hardware and the software to run it.

Software is free because I do the programming, but if I didn:t know how to program it, I would have
to hire someone who can convert 3-d images to 2-d.... it will cost alot of money.
The color, face, object, speech, reading etc... I have to program it.. No one is going to do for you.
(I may release as open source or SDK in the future, but　that it the least of my worry right now)

Hardware.
You will need a good camera and microphone.
I started off using webcam with build in microphone..... it was crap.

Then I borrow my father SONY camera with 3ccd....it cost about $4500 .... it was old model, but it makes a lot of difference in quality.
It makes my life a lot easier to program software to convert 3-d to 2-d with a good camera.
After that I went out and look for a decent camera with 3ccd...
The cheapest and big bang for your dollar was a Matsushita camera with 3ccd... cost about $850 each.
After you take it apart, it only weight about 150g so not that bad.
(The original weight is about 650g)

Then I went out and get myself a good microphone, which cost about $200.

So the cost is 850+200 + tax
(This is miniumn cost)

But for my project Aiko, I bought three camera so just multiply by 3X.


So the answer to your questions.
The hardware is the cost.
camera and microphone.
For me it was the Matsushita camera and microphone

Personal, I think one of the most important sensor in a android/robot is the eye (camera).

Just like human, our eyes is #1 sensor and #2 is our hearing.

That is why I spend a lot of money on camera (eye) and microphone (hearing)