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Android (robot)

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An android is a humanoid robot or an artificial being designed to resemble a human.

Repliee Q2
Repliee Q2

These machines often use flesh-like materials to mimic human skin and appearance. While the term "robot" usually refers to mechanical beings, the word "android" specifically highlights a human-like form. Some scientists use the term "anthrobot" to describe these machines without focusing on gender. This distinction helps avoid confusion with organic human-like species in science fiction. Androids represent a fascinating intersection of robotics and human biology.

The way an android moves and interacts depends on its specific mechanical design. Some advanced models, like the DER2, use an "air servosystem" to move. This system uses air pressure to control actuators, which results in very fluid, quiet movement. Other robots rely on complex motor systems to change their facial expressions. For example, the WD-2 robot uses a mask made of a highly elastic material called Septom. This mask contains 17 facial points, each having three degrees of freedom.

Repliee Q2 face
Repliee Q2 face

By using a 3D scanner, researchers can program these points to copy a specific human face.

Researchers categorize androids in several ways based on their physical composition. Eric G. Wilson identifies three distinct types of synthetic human beings. The first is the "mummy type," which is made of inanimate materials like puppets or statues. The second is the "golem type," which uses flexible or organic materials. The third is the "automaton type," which consists of a mix of living and dead parts. In fiction, the definition varies even more widely. Some stories describe androids as purely mechanical, while others portray them as wholly organic, artificial creations.

The concept of the android has a long history spanning several centuries. The earliest recorded use of the term "Androides" appeared in Ephraim Chambers' 1728 Cyclopaedia. By the late 1700s, elaborate mechanical devices resembling humans were displayed in exhibit halls.

Android Times Tue Dec 22 1795
Android Times Tue Dec 22 1795

The term appeared in US patents as early as 1863 to describe miniature toy automatons. Modern science fiction helped popularize the distinction between mechanical robots and fleshy androids. Authors like Jack Williamson and Edmond Hamilton played major roles in this cultural shift. Today, terms like "droid" or "cyborg" have emerged to describe different types of artificial beings.

Many significant engineering milestones have shaped modern android development. In 1972, Waseda University in Japan completed WABOT-1, the first full-scale humanoid intelligent robot. This machine featured a limb control system that allowed it to walk and grip objects. By 1984, the improved WABOT-2 could play the organ using its ten fingers. In South Korea, the EveR-1 model was developed to emulate human emotions. EveR-1 is built with highly advanced synthetic jelly silicon and features 60 artificial joints.

Ever-2
Ever-2

This allows the robot to sing and dance while maintaining realistic facial expressions.

Today, androids are being developed for specialized social and educational roles. In Singapore, the social robot Nadine uses software similar to digital assistants like Siri. She is designed to serve as a personal assistant or a companion for the elderly. Another project, EDGAR, uses tele-presence technology to allow a remote user to control a robot's expressions in real time. In the United States, the AI android Maria Bot serves as a teaching assistant at the university level. These various applications show how robotics is moving from laboratory research into daily human life.

As technology advances, the relationship between humans and androids continues to evolve. South Korea has even planned "robot cities" to support large-scale research and development. These cities may include exhibition halls and stadiums for robot competitions. To manage this growth, countries are creating ethics charters to establish rules for human-robot interaction. These guidelines aim to prevent the abuse of robots and ensure safe standards for manufacturers. The study of androids connects mechanical engineering, computer science, and social ethics into one complex field.

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