kibo communication robot prepares for NASA's international space station

planned by the japanese aerospace exploration agency (JAXA), ‘kirobo’, the communication robot will become the first autonomous android to set foot into the experimental module in NASA’s international space station. weighing almost 1kg and measuring about 34cm x 18cm x 15cm in size, ‘kirobo’ uses natural language processing and recognition technology from toyota, to understand japanese – responding in a synthesized voice. the robot also has information and communication processing capabilities, behavioral qualities, face-recognition detection, and a camera for recording.

to date, preliminary zero gravity tests have been conducted – preparing the robot for its first voyage to outer-space. conceived as campaign to promote the relationship between japan and the ISS, its primary objective will be to entertain japanese astronaut koichi wakata, who will be interacting with followers on earth via twitter.

what kirobo’s view will look like from the ISS

speech recognition software allows the robot to respond to human voices

preliminary testing

kirobo and robot  designer tomotaka takahashi

can walk and balance on one foot

mimicking children on one foot

via gizmag