A graphic designer in Hong Kong has constructed a life-sized robot from scratch on the balcony of his home. Ricky Ma grew up watching cartoons featuring adventures of robots and dreamed of eventually building one of his own one day. His childhood dream was realized at the age of 42.
The fruit of his labors of a year-and-a-half, and a budget of more than $50,000, is a female robot prototype he calls Mark 1, modeled after a Hollywood star whose name he wanted to keep under wraps. I think we can all guess who she resembles. Ahem...Scarlet Johansson? The robot responds to set of programmed verbal commands spoken into a microphone. I wonder if he sculpted her to be anatomically correct? Better yet, I wonder if her month "only" talks. Okay, I'm starting to creep myself out now.
Ma said, "I figured I should just do it when the timing is right and realize my dream. If I realize my dream, I will have no regrets in life." Besides simple movements of its arms and legs, turning its head and bowing, Ma's robot, which has dark blond hair and liquid eyes, and wears a grey skirt and cropped top, can create detailed facial expressions. In response to the compliment, "Mark 1, you are so beautiful," its brows and the muscles around its eyes relax, and the corners of its lips lift, creating a natural-seeming smile, and it says, "Hehe, thank you."
A 3-D printed skeleton lies beneath Mark1's silicone skin, wrapping its mechanical and electric parts. About 70 percent of its body was created using 3D printing technology. Ma, who believes the importance of robots will only grow, hopes an investor will buy his prototype, giving him the capital to build more, and he wants to write a book about his experience, to help other enthusiasts. The rise of robots and artificial intelligence are among disruptive labor market changes that the World Economic Forum projects will lead to a net loss of 5.1 million jobs over the next five years. Yeah, that's not good! Am I the only one who finds this a little bit creepy?
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