This article presents all novelties at the Global Robot Expo related
to educational robots, from emotional robots to early child programming,
going through robot building and robot remote-controlling from a tablet
or mobile app.
Global Robot Expo: Educational Robots, From Emotional Robots To Early Child Programming
Kazuhiko Koshikawa, Ambassador of Japan, surprised us with a perfect Castilian language. Then he left us perplexed: He began to speak about
Juanelo Turriano,
the watchmaker of the Court of Charles I, and his "Stick Man". Besides
watchmaker, Juanelo was a mathematician, astronomer, engineer,
architect... His real name was Gianello Torriani (he was born near Milan
in 1501). The Milanese where he lived became part of the empire of
Carlos I and V of Germany, and Gianello was called to Toledo by the
ambassador to become the court watchmaker.
In addition to building a variety of clocks, some of which were
complicated astronomy gadgets (it is said that Carlos I understood
watches as truly scientific instruments), through his knowledge of
mechanics and watchmakers, Juanelo also became builder of automatons,
some of which are preserved in Europe. However, the most famous of them,
the "Stick Man" has left no trace, to the point of becoming a legend.
It is thought that it was installed around the street of "Stick Man" in
Toledo (Spain), close to the cathedral. Apparently, it was burned by the
Inquisition when it was decreed to be possessed by Evil. It is believed
that its intention was to raise money, maybe for Juanelo itself, maybe
for a charity hospital that was being built at that time.
It is said that the Stick Man had a slot where people could insert
coins, and as a sign of gratitude, it genuflected. Some believe that he
was led through the streets of Toledo by rail and others that it was
winded and it walked on his own feet. Since there has been no trace of
its planes, there is no way to confirm it. Since 1987, there is in Spain
the
Juanelo Turriano Foundation, responsible for keeping the memory of the Italian wise and his work.
500 years after that event, Kazuhiko Koshikawa recalls it to
celebrate the appearance of the first humanoid in Spain, during the
opening ceremony of the
Global Robot Expo
held in Madrid. Koshikawa considers that this first edition of the fair
is the beginning of a cooperative relationship to share experiences and
scientific knowledge between Japan and Spain in the field of robotics.
"Even the longest journey begins with one small step", says Koshikawa,
according to an old Japanese proverb.
Global Robot Expo: Kazuhiko Koshikawa and Takanori Shibata presenting PARO, the Educational Robot.
Then the ambassador presented to Professor Takanori Shibata, from the
Tokyo Institute of Technology. Shibata hold in his hands the
seal PARO robot,
which might seem a simple stuffed baby seal, but it is actually a
complex robot with an initial development cost of 15 million dollars.
PARO is generally used for patients with
dementia and Alzheimer palliative care, but also in some countries such as Denmark is being used in
special education for children with autism.
This robot approved by the
US FDA as a medical device,
has 32 processors, 3 buses, 20 tactile sensors that cover its skin,
sensitive whiskers to touch, and a system of motors that activate its
fins and body silently. Responds to touch, to be caught in arms, to be
looked at, to temperature and light changes, to sound and the direction
it comes from, and it is able to remember names, faces, and actions that
generate a positive reaction in humans. It can simulate emotions and
moods such as surprise, happiness, and anger, which helps creating the
illusion that a relationship with it is taking place. It also emulates
the sound of a real baby seal. As with real animals company, it gives
positive effects to alleviate depression and anxiety, but it is not
necessary to feed it and it never dies (although you cannot machine wash
it!).
Read the full article at its source: http://elearningindustry.com/educational-robots-global-robot-expo 
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