Page 298 - AC/E's Digital Culture Annual Report 2015

AC/E Digital Culture Annual Report 2015298Prototype of Rhino at the Deutsches Musem in BonnOther universities such as that of Saitama in Japan have subsequently developed more intel- ligent models, as is only logical. In this case,211 the robot can explain objects or paintings andis even capable of changing its behaviour in response to the reactions of a human being, as it can detect head movements and facial gestures through a laser sensor and a 360 degree camera.In 2014 the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation of Tokyo (Miraikan) opened a permanent exhibition entitled Android: What is Human?212 According to the museum, visitors to this exhibition can see the most advanced humanoid robots in the world, which also carry out museum management tasks.This exhibition, a combination of science and technology, sets out to show that research into humanoid robots involves investigating humans, examining what emotion, awareness and thought are. Although the exhibition features three androids, Kodomoroid and Otonaroid attract visitors’ attention the most, as they have a human appearance.Kodomoroid has the appearance of a child and its main function is to read news – which itcan do in various languages and with different voices. Otonaroid, which has the appearance of a young woman, plays the part of “robot science communicator”, and interaction is therefore possible. Telenoid, the third robot, which does not have a humanoid appearance, was designed with the minimum requirements for humanlike communication.All three robots are remote control operated, but Otonaroid and Telenoid also respond to visitors’ instructions.In September 2014 FROG213 (Fun Robot Out- door Guide) was presented at the Real Alcázar in Seville and is a very special guide. This robot is capable of explaining – for the time being in English, Dutch and Spanish – the history of the eleventh-century Sevillian palace using augment- ed reality technology. It is designed to act as a typical guide, interacting with the visitor, and as it is equipped with a facial recognition systemit can tell if the visitor is bored and accordingly switch to a different tone or change subject.FROG is the result of a European Union-funded international research project on social robotics in which the Escuela Politécnica Superior of the Universidad Pablo Olavide in Seville takes part. The Alcázar in Seville has collaborated with the project by making available a space for testing this device.Kasparov and Chesster214 are the two robots that joined the team of the National Museum of Australia in 2013. Their work consists in providing access to virtual tours that visitors canFocus 2015. Museums and New Technologies