Tell Me About the Rabbits

I return from my nearly three-week hiatus with... more robots! Even if the world's bloggers can't be counted on, at least our robot engineers will keep churning out conversation pieces into the next decade and beyond. In this case we have Infanoid and Keepon, the "childlike robot" and "creature-like robot," respectively. Whereas ASIMO is the publicity-stunt-like robot, or the money-pit-like robot, these fun fellows are the real deal.

Keepon has, as the technical literature describes it, a "yellow, snowman like body". He watches things -- and that's about it. Oh, and he also manages to express "pleasure and excitement" with nothing but his adorable blank gaze and a neck. You're no Lucille Ball, Keepon, but considering your circumstances, you do a good job.

Keepon, it seems, is a big hit. " Some of the children extended their diadic interaction with Keepon into triadic inter-personal interaction, where they tried to share the pleasure and surprise they found in Keepon with others," because "Keepon seemed to be neither a complex human nor a simple toy." The sweet spot indeed. They always told me I was a little autistic; why else could I long to share my pleasure and surprise with you, the reader?

Infanoid, meanwhile, isn't quite the everything-but-one-plegic that Keepon is, but a return to robot basics. He can't do any of that fancy walking that characterizes ASIMO, but he does a mean grasp-and-point. Like, "stay away from my bunny, dude." If you ever need a robot to guard your bunny or ball, pointing all the while, Infanoid is your man. I picture him talking like Don Knotts.

Infanoid also does 4 facial expressions, with a disturbing aura of blackface around them. Those red lips and googly eyes can't be racially sensitive, but let's not hold it against child-like, innocent Infanoid.

Apparently the whole point of this robot rumpus is to simulate child development, or some unnecessary rationale like that. It seems Keepon is the creature that children interact with, while Infanoid simulates the child himself. The pointy, grabby, child. My question is, have they ever put Infanoid and Keepon together? You always see one or the other in the photos, not both. Considering their separate personalities, I get the feeling they would really hit it off. In fact, I think it might be like Of Mice of Men. Keepon and Infanoid will live offa the fatta the lan'.