Oh, baby!

It had to happen - researchers from Osaka University and the Japan Science and Technology Agency have overseen the birth of a robot baby! The bouncing bundle of silicone joy is called CB2, from Child Robot with Biomimetic Body. The team, which includes android wizard Hiroshi Ishiguro and RoboCup cofounder Minoru Asada, created the robot so scientists could learn more about childhood development. There's a video here.

They say CB2 is designed to act like a 1- or 2-year-old human child, with a sophisticated array of air-servo motors beneath its silicone hide and visual, auditory and tactile sensors that allow it to react to its environment in a lifelike fashion. It reacts if tapped on the shoulder or presented with a plaything. Professor Asada was quoted by the Mainichi newspaper as saying ongoing research will focus on improving body functionality so the robot can be integrated into society. The team also wants to teach it how to walk and talk once the necessary software is developed. Another goal is to improve CB2 so that it can play with real children.

At 33 kg (72 lbs) and 130 cm (4'2"), baby is pretty big. In appearance it seems rather uncanny as well, and I believe some would say that this robot falls into the Uncanny Valley. CB2 seems half-alive and half-human, and doubtless will engender a negative response in many people.

But his daddy must be proud of him. Maybe Astro Boy is passing out cigars.