(January 6, 2014) University of Canterbury researchers will continue
experimenting over summer to find exciting new functions for their first
life-sized humanoid robot whose components have been created using a 3D
printer.
The robot, called InMoov, can be replicated on any 3D
printer. While it only has a torso, it can talk, move in complex ways,
recognise voices and has several in-built cameras. The benefit of 3D printing
is the convenient and affordable cost of prototyping.
One of the Government’s
10 National Scientific Challenges announced this year included robotic
development.
Experiments and research activities with the robot are being
carried out at UC’s HIT Lab NZ, headed by Professor Mark Billinghurst and
Associate Professor Christoph Bartneck. HIT Lab PhD student Eduardo Sandoval
says the 3D printer is producing the parts of the robot.
"The amazing thing is that 3D printers have become very
affordable and anyone can three-dimensionally print their own robot.
"We will be working on this project and with other
robots throughout 2014. It is an exciting new field to be involved in,’’
Sandoval says.