A startup called Clone Robotics has taken a biomimetic approach to designing humanoid robots. Their ultra-creepy android torso, which looks straight out of Westworld, is mounted to a pelvis and features an artificial ribcage and hydraulics-powered muscles.
"The first bimanual Torso created at Clone includes an actuated elbow, cervical spine (neck), and anthropomorphic shoulders with the sternoclavicular, acromioclavicular, scapulothoracic and glenohumeral joints. The valve matrix fits compactly inside the ribcage. Bimanual manipulation training is in progress."
Before we get to the torso demo, look at what the thing's hands can do:
Not creeped out enough yet? Here's a look at the entire torso in action:
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The company says their goal is to make "low-cost, musculoskeletal androids with human-level hands trained to perform all the common labor needed for daily life." I am not looking forward to the day these things get legs.
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Comments
Impressive articulation. I want to see the size of the hydraulic apparatus that powers it. I imagine it to be debilitatingly large.
I won't say it creeped me out, but I did find myself expecting to see the fabric on the face suck in as it took a breath. It wasn't breathing? Oh. Good.