Nexi the M.D.S. Robot from MIT

Posted by Ali S. in Science & Tech, Video Clips on April 5, 2008 at 5:41 pm


Nexi, is an M.D.S. (Mobile/Dexterous/Social) Robot coming from the geniuses of MIT Media Labs Personal Robots Group in collaboration with Xitome Design, UMASS Amherst’s Laboratory for Perceptual Robotics, and Meka Robotics. Built to the size and relative weight of a 3 year old child Nexi has a combination of mobility, dexterity, and human-centric communication and interactive abilities. It has the arm strength capability to lift up to 10 pounds and is able to move about on two wheels at a steady and even pace. And it’s head and neck is able to move and gesture at human speeds to allow it to nod, shake, tilt, and orient much like that of a human neck.

According to MIT:

The purpose of this platform is to support research and education goals in human-robot interaction, teaming, and social learning.

The face has the amazing ability to convey human emotions and facial expressions such as anger, confusion, sadness, curiosity, and happiness among 16 degrees of other facial expressions easily recognizable. It can do this by utilizing the eyebrows, gaze, eyelids, and an articulated mandible (the mouth) for expressive posturing eerily close to our own.

To end this post I’d like to point this sentence out to you from the Xitome Design website about the M.D.S. Robot:

The robot is roughly the height and weight of an adolescent child,with a strength-to-mass ratio that allows it to interact safely with humans.

Interact “safely” with humans?! I can’t wait for a creepy 3 year old sized robot to attack me in the future with an angry lifeless stare when the Robot Wars begin. ;)

Press Play to watch or head to YouTube – [Link]

Found via Gizmodo- [Link]

Further Information can be found here on these links provided. I highly suggest you check out the MIT Media Labs link since it has a ton of information about Nexi and other projects.

MIT Media Labs Personal Robots Group – [Link]
Meka Robotics – [Link]
UMASS Amherst’s Laboratory for Perceptual Robotics – [Link]
Xitome Design – [Link]


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COMMENT

22 comments to "Nexi the M.D.S. Robot from MIT"

  1. cw
    April 5th, 2008 at 5:51 pm

    Kinda make me think of this...

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjRXyWFLkEY

  2. jas
    April 5th, 2008 at 6:10 pm

    Calling fake.... of some kind
    A robot that "pops" its"p's"? unless its voice is made up of thousands of badly recorded samples? otherwise its just animatronics not robotics?
    Anyone?.....

  3. Ali S.
    April 5th, 2008 at 6:19 pm

    @ Jas

    Well, it is a pre-recorded speech sample used. If ever robots would talk they would probably use a speech synthesizer much like the ones used in computers.

  4. CheeseDuck
    April 5th, 2008 at 6:29 pm

    Sweet. I want one.

  5. SenorMysterioso
    April 5th, 2008 at 6:43 pm

    why do we insist on making humanoid robots. Are there any studies on this? Does humanizing it make it function better or does it makes us relate to them better? It always seems very odd to me.

  6. Ali S.
    April 5th, 2008 at 6:53 pm

    @ SenorMysterioso

    From what I've read about the M.D.S. Robots is that they are being created to be used as helper robots (very much like those being developed in Japan) for the elderly, lab work, and AI development, as well, as other applications.

  7. Tempscire
    April 5th, 2008 at 6:56 pm

    It's to help us relate to them, I think. Robots meant for doing grunt industrial work are purely functional in form, from what I've seen. The humanoid robots tend to be exercises in artificial intelligence and natural motion.

  8. Nastia
    April 5th, 2008 at 8:37 pm

    awesome sauce

  9. Cam
    April 5th, 2008 at 9:08 pm

    Robot uprising. It'll happen.

  10. PapaTango
    April 5th, 2008 at 10:28 pm

    I for one welcome our new MDS robot overlords.

  11. otterly
    April 6th, 2008 at 1:07 am

    This is just audio animatronics right? Walt Disney already created this in the 60's! This robot is just a dummy, I don't understand the innovation. The new Jack Sparow in Pirates of the Carribean is a much better humaniod animatronic.

  12. ted
    April 6th, 2008 at 1:44 am

    Johnny Depp is a robot?

  13. Deram_Maras
    April 6th, 2008 at 2:58 am

    cute, yet creepy...

    yeah...

    I'm going to barricade my house now...

  14. Mangetout
    April 6th, 2008 at 7:40 am

    Does this remind anyone else of the video for Technologic by Daft Punk?

  15. MoonCake
    April 6th, 2008 at 7:56 am

    robot apocolypse.. 'nuff said.

    but yea.. it is odd that "they" make robots to look like humans, eh? i mean, i guess it's the whole "humans want to rule the world" mentality that influences the need for human-like robots. we're so self centered. it's probably to make them seem to pose as little threatening as possible. "Hey, maybe if we make them look like us nobody will be afraid!" yea, great idea... and when someone programs a couple to feel pain and think for themselves, we'll see how cute they are then. @Deram Maras: i'm right behind you.

  16. MoonCake
    April 6th, 2008 at 7:57 am

    whoops.. i meant "..pose as little THREAT as possible."

  17. Viola
    April 6th, 2008 at 8:02 am

    hahahaha Robot!Johnny Depp.

    UMass Amherst, represent.

  18. Thespian24601
    April 6th, 2008 at 11:46 am

    That's neat. I'm glad that we're getting closer to having robot humanoids helping out.

  19. Near
    April 6th, 2008 at 12:09 pm

    Charming.

  20. matt
    April 7th, 2008 at 12:33 pm

    Much less creepy than previous robot efforts. Can't wait to see eventual video clips of it falling down stairs.

  21. tabest
    April 8th, 2008 at 1:28 pm

    I just think that's disturbing. I'm all for technological advances but iRobot keeps coming to mind.

  22. meagan
    March 10th, 2009 at 12:00 pm

    where do i et it and how much does it cost?


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