Scientists have been building humanoid robots for years, while constantly improving and perfecting them. But a Chinese company has raised the bar by creating the first of its kind household humanoid robot which will quickly turn into man's best friend. It's small in size and can be described as an innovative pet.
The humanoid robot is 17″ (43 cm) tall and weighs 5.5 lb (2.5 kg). It's made of aluminum, its panels are plastic. It's equipped with 16 GB of embedded memory and 2 GB operational memory. The robot's skeleton contains 20 servos, allowing it to move on 2 legs, kind of like a tiny person. So far, no other household robot has had legs, which makes the Alpha 2 truly unique.
The Alpha 2 can be controlled via voice commands and a special smart phone app. It has a microphone and camera and can be used as a voice secretary. However, providing fun remains its main function. It is an interactive, entertaining toy that can follow simple commands.
The robot has many functions. It's completely programmable and can control household systems while you're away, it can keep track of your to-do list and calendar and even look after the kids and play with your other pets.
It communicates on a basic level, while it can be expanded by buying/downloading the many apps the company provides. The only thing the Alpha 2 requires is an internet connection via Wi-Fi.
The prototype of the household humanoid robot has already been developed and works perfectly. In the future, the company plans to add to the Alpha 2 the ability for it to work as part of a team.
Its creators have started a fundraising campaign. Anyone willing can order an Alpha 2 robot for $499, then must dutifully wait for their new pet to be built and delivered.
