Toymaker unveils talking, singing robot

A humanoid robot Robi jr. which can speak some 1 000 phrases and makes gestures is seen at a press preview at the Japan Robot Week exhibition in Tokyo.

A humanoid robot Robi jr. which can speak some 1 000 phrases and makes gestures is seen at a press preview at the Japan Robot Week exhibition in Tokyo.

Published Oct 16, 2014

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Tokyo - Japanese toymaker Tomy on Wednesday unveiled a multi-talented humanoid robot, named Robi jr., which can converse using about 1 000 phrases and belt out about 50 songs, as well as move its limbs and head.

The company said it will put the Japanese-speaking humanoid, designed by well-known roboticist Tomotaka Takahashi, on the market early next year at a price of 15 000 yen (about R1 400) apiece at stores and online in Japan.

Its Chinese-speaking siblings will also debut in Taiwan and Hong Kong at around the same time, a company official said, after Robi jr. was unveiled at the Japan Robot Week exhibition in Tokyo.

The googly-eyed, 20 centimetre high robot was designed to resemble a six-year-old, according to the firm, which says it is equipped with voice recognition and calendar functions so it can respond when owners ask it for the time.

When asked to sing a song, the robot will answer, “Okay. Then let's sing along together” or “No. Ask me later because I am busy”, depending on “its mood”.

Tomy plans to sell 50 000 Robi jr units a year in its home market. - Sapa-AFP

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