EveR-1

EveR-1 ( _ko. 에버원) is the world's second female android (gynoid), developed by a team of South Korean scientists from the [http://eng.kitech.re.kr/ Korea Institute of Industrial Technology] in Korea University of Science and Technology. The project is headed by Baeg Moon-hong ( _ko. 백문홍) and was unveiled to the public at [http://www.temf.co.kr/eng/ Kyoyuk MunHwa HoeKwan] in Seoul on May 4, 2006. Its name is derived from the combination of the Biblical "Eve" and the "r" from "robot".

EveR-1 is a direct competitor of Actroid, which is being developed by [http://www.kokoro-dreams.co.jp Kokoro Dreams] and Osaka University of Japan and was unveiled at the International Robot Exhibition in Tokyo in 2003. EveR-1 was built in a year at a cost of 300 million won (US$321,000) in state funds.

The creators said the humanoid's face is a composite of two well-known Korean actresses, while the torso is based on a singer, though the names of the celebrities were not revealed. The android weighs 50 kilograms and has a height of 160 centimeters.

The creators also said that EveR-1 can mimic the human emotions of happiness, sadness, anger, and surprise more naturally than its Japanese rival, while using a hydraulic system for certain movements. EveR-1 contains a total of 35 miniature motors located throughout its upper body, which enables EveR-1 to move its head, arms, and upper body and even move its lips in synchronization with the robot's speech. Its skin is made of synthetic, pliable silicone jelly that feels similar to human skin.

The android can recognize 400 Korean and English words, allowing it to respond to questions both verbally and through 15 facial expressions: EveR-1 will show displeasure if you poke her. The android also has motion data process sensors in its artificial eyes, enabling it to follow people with its eyes and head.

EveR-2

EveR-2 or EveR-2 Muse, successor of EveR-1, which performed at Robot World 2006 in Seoul [ [http://www.korea.net/News/Issues/issueDetailView.asp?board_no=13892 Korean Overseas Culture and Information Service news story] ] , has improved vision and ability to express emotions, as well as various other enhancements. [ [http://dart.kitech.re.kr/presentation/hanyang07/1_2.pdf Presentation on KITECH's site] (PDF may take several minutes to load) - includes an annotated photograph of the complete Eve-R2 unit on page 11, and specifications on page 12. Lower resolution versions of these pictures and others may be found on [http://www.aving.net/usa/news/default.asp?mode=read&c_num=31719&C_Code=07&SP_Num=0 AVING's site] .] Boredom is now an available emotion, along with the usual joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness. She sang the Korean ballad "I Will Close My Eyes For You" during the opening ceremony at the Robot World 2006 conference in Seoul, which made her the first android singer in the world.

She is about 5 feet7" (170cm) tall and weighs about 135 pounds (60kg). Her silicon-covered face has a higher flexibility; 29 motors and dozens of joints provide 23 degrees of freedom for self-expression. In total, EveR-2 has 25 more degrees of freedom than EveR-1. Her improved speech recognition, voice synthesis and gesture expression technology allows for more sophisticated communication and interaction with a human. The small CCD cameras of EveR-1 has been upgraded to Wide range Small CCD cameras (90 degrees) for better vision. While the synthetic pliable silicon jelly only covered the face and hand with soft materials of the EveR-1 (while the rest was covered with hard material), EveR-2 has her whole body covered with the soft artficial skin.

KITECH is currently developing EveR-3 and EveR-4, scheduled for release in 2010. The upgraded female androids are expected to walk, sing, dance, and have "substantially improved intelligence."

A male version (android) is also currently being developed.

Baek Moon-hong envisions educational and entertainment functions for the androids, from providing information in department stores and museums, to reading stories to children.

References

*cite web|url=http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/200605/kt2006050417203910160.htm|title=Korean Scientists Develop Female Android|work=Korea Times May 4 2006|accessdate=2006-05-05
*cite web|url=http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200605/200605040016.html|title=Korea Unveils World's Second Android|work=Digital Chosunilbo May 4 2006
*cite web|url=http://news.media.daum.net/digital/it/200605/04/Edaily/v12596404.html?_right_TOPIC=R10|title="국내 첫 인조인간로봇 `에버원` 태어났다|work=Daum.net (Korean) May 4, 2006
*cite web|url=http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/gca?SEARCHID=1&FULLTEXT=Ever-1&FIRSTINDEX=0&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&gca=312%2F5779%2F1449d&sendit.x=44&sendit.y=9&sendit=Get+all+checked+abstract%28s%29|title=I'm Your Guide|work=Science June 9 2006

ee also

* Korea University of Science and Technology
*Actroid, the first female android, with notes on Repliee R1 and Repliee Q1.
*Meinü (a Chinese gynoid)
*Android
*Android science
*"Blade Runner", a science fiction film about an android revolt on future Earth.
*List of Korea-related topics
*Persocom
*Robotics
*Uncanny valley