The CES tech show on January 5, 2022, turned out to be a mixture of many emotions ranging from being creeped out to be amazed at a human creation.
Among the robots that captured everyone’s attention is the humanoid called Pedia-Roid. It is difficult to describe the humanoid in words but most sources have claimed that the robot managed to create a seepage between cool and slightly disturbing.
Even one of the exhibitors from Peru, Marcelo Humerez, described the robot as having “scary” looking eyes. The Pedia-Roid is designed for medical training, and as part of its description, the eyes of the robot turn white.
Just a few paces away from the medical robot, people were greeted by another humanoid called Ameca. It garnered a different reaction from those around it as the humanoid chatted with the people whom it amazed by demonstrating its human-like gestures. An exhibitor from the Canadian company Geotab exclaimed, “Whoa, robot! I didn’t expect that when I turned the corner. But it looks amazing and it tracked me right away.”
Although these two robots elicited different reactions, the aim of the creators of these robots was spot on. Morgan Roe from Britain-based Engineered Arts mentioned that the firm created software and technology to make Ameca person-like.
He further mentioned, “We’ve designed Ameca to be as human-like as possible in movement. Humans are so complex, so making a robot exactly like a human is almost impossible. But if we did that, then you wouldn’t be scared of it because you would just assume it was a human.”
On the other hand, the Japanese firm responsible for creating the Pedia-Roid, tmsuk, revealed that the firm wanted to create a realistic scenario, and as such the developers added some of the scary noises so that the humanoid will behave like a child.
Pedia-Roid can simulate the movements of a child who is reluctant to receive treatment. However, the humanoid could be used efficiently by doctors to test how they can treat and comfort reluctant children.
