Japanese Robot Supermodel

Posted 28 Feb 2005 at 20:12 UTC by steve

Okay, don't get too excited, this isn't quite as life-like as you imagined when you saw the headline. Roland Piquepaille sent us this news on Japanese robotics, "A Japanese designer has developed a mannequin robot, Palette, which can adapt its movements to the shoppers passing in front of it, according to an article from Agence France-Presse (AFP), "Striking a robotic pose". Using motion-capture technology, Palette will be able to act as a supermodel. And with its specialized sensors and software, it also will be able to identify the sex and age of shoppers before transmitting them to store owners for marketing purposes. The price has not been set yet, but Palette should go on sale in 2005 in two versions: a body without legs to showcase clothings, and a torso model for jewelry." See Roland's blog for more details and a photo of Palette, a robot which intentionally has no face. Another photo is available in a recent CNET news article.