TIMEasia.com | GizmoLand! | Miracle Of Life | 5/1/2000 - 5/8/2000 Miracle Of Life

A Japanese research team gives TIME an exclusive inside look at the birth of "Pino,"a robot child

By TIM LARIMER Tokyo



For six months, the researchers on scientist Hiroaki Kitano's robotics team in Tokyo had been trying to create a baby robot. On April 18 they finally succeeded, and they gave TIME exclusive access to both the gestation and the "birth."After putting 35 exterior polyurethane panels-painted snow white and apple green-around the approximately 150 mechanical pieces that make the robot run, they stood back and admired their handiwork: a 75 cm tall, 8 kg bundle of joy that could already walk-gingerly-and kick a soccer ball.


Kitano's baby has 29 motors that power one body movement each - a bending elbow, for example, or a flexing knee. Later the robot will be able to respond to voice commands, recognize faces and, the ultimate goal, play soccer. Its name? "Pino" - short for Pinocchio, the wooden doll who wanted to be a boy.