Kirobo is a Japanese-speaking robotic that helps astronauts feel safe and secure. This robot is the world’s first companion robot and it has set a new altitude record in space for robots having conversations after a 18-month aboard the International Space Station. The robot, which is 1kg and 34 tall, can recognize faces thanks to a state of the art voice recognition system. Kirobo is capable of stabilizing itself in zero gravity environments. The robot has an extensive library of gestures that can be used and a synthesized voice. Its advanced language processing system makes it a tiny robot capable of communicating in a natural way. Kirobo was able to maintain its equilibrium in zero gravity conditions. Kirobo is a result of a five-year partnership between Toyota Motor Corporation and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Robo Garage, University of Tokyo’s Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology and Dentsu. Robot companion to astronauts suffering from cabin fever. The robot’s creators wanted to see if the robot can provide emotional support for those who are lonely, especially for long periods of time. Kirobo, 2013, was launched into space in a HIIB rocket on August 4. It was assigned to serve as astronaut Koichi Wakata’s space companion. Six days after arriving at the ISS, it gave its first speech with the phrase, “On August 2013, a roboticist took one small step towards a brighter tomorrow for all.” The event was 2013, on December 7, 414. 2 kilometers above sea level. Kirobo had several productive conversations with Wakata and won a Guinness World Record. Kirobo returned safely to Earth by the SpaceX Dragon cargo supply spacecraft. It was last seen in Japan March 12th. Kirobo in Japan is considered a national hero. Image: Guinness World Records. Robot declared the Earth “glowed.” When the robot returned to Japan, it said its first words, “From above, the Earth glows like an LED.” Aya McMillan, official adjudicator and Erika Ogawa Vice President of Guinness World Records Japan presented certificates with Guinness World Record during an event held at Tokyo’s National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation. Yorichika Naishijima is Kirobo’s communications designer. She said that the project was launched in 2005, back when no one believed robots could coexist. We wanted it to be sent into space because we saw that humans and robots can co-exist in a new age. “It’s sort of a symbolic project to help people understand how robots can interact with humans.” Video – Wakata and Kirobo’s final words
Two Guinness World Record wins for Kirobo the astronaut robot
