THE walking, talking robot that can operate with the dexterity of a human being may have been the stuff of science fiction for decades, but state-of-the-art C3POs are now on the march.

The brave new world of humanoid robots that not only take out the rubbish and clean the carpet but also look after children, care for the elderly and travel into space is now almost upon us, the magazine New Scientist concludes after analysing recent advances in the robotics of movement, manipulation and speech.

The robots will combine the latest developments in control software, sensors and actuators — the mechanisms that facilitate movement — with advances in “walking” technology and sound synthesis.

“Lifelike humanoid robots have eluded designers because the mechanisms required to perform such tasks as emulating a hand, or walking and talking in anything approaching a natural manner, are hugely complex and need fine control,” the report concludes. “(But) researchers are now poised to pull together developments in three key fields — walking, talking and manipulation — to produce a new generation of human-like machines.”

Current research projects are now removing the stilted walk and gait associated with two-legged robots, and the artificial sounds that so betray their mechanical origins, the magazine reports. Software programs have also been developed that allow humanoid robots far more sensitivity to their surroundings, raising the prospect of their becoming an everyday reality around the house and further afield.

“When artificial intelligence catches up (with the advances), robots will not only be able to clean the house, do the dishes and take out the garbage, but also to play with children, help the elderly and even explore the farthest reaches of space and perform repairs or search-and-rescue missions in hazardous sites on Earth.”

The Robonaut, a project run by Nasa, is setting new standards in dexterity designed to mimic the work of astronauts. The aim is to build a robot with the dexterity of a six-year-old child within the next twenty years.

Other artificial intelligence experts are working on software that allows robots to learn autonomously how to use objects through hand-eye co-ordination and a tactile understanding of how they feel.

New “talking” technology, including motor-driven diaphragms, artificial vocal cords and lips that can protrude, is also aiding pronunciation and the development of robots that can learn to speak by developing their own understanding of phonemes, or speech sounds.

Oliver Brock, an expert on robot dexterity at the University of Massachusetts, said the pace of development was such that humanoid robots might soon be able to carry out tasks that were beyond human capabilities. Artificial intelligence, allowing robots to make decisions independently was only in its infancy, though.

New Scientist says: “The goal is to build robots that . . . will learn to interact with humans in a messy and unpredictable environment, not just in the lab . . . but they will depend on us for a long time to come.”

MADE TO OBEY

1969 Shakey — developed at Stanford Research Institute. First robot to sense its environment

2000 Aibo — robotic dog developed by Sony that reacts to voice commands and touch and can be given different “personalities” as it ages

2000 Asimo — Honda’s humanoid that can go upstairs, answer the door and understand gestures and spoken commands

2002 SDR-4X — Sony robot that can sing, dance, recognise faces, voices and names, hold simple conversations and get up after being pushed over

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