Actroid

Actroid is a type of android (humanoid robot) with strong visual human-likeness developed by Osaka University and manufactured by Kokoro Company Ltd. (the animatronics division of Sanrio).

Internal sensors allow Actroid models to react with a natural appearance by way of air actuators placed at many points of articulation in the upper body.

The operation of the robot's sensory system in tandem with its air powered movements make it quick enough to react to or fend off intrusive motions, such as a slap or a poke.

Additionally, the robot can be "taught" to imitate human movements by facing a person who is wearing reflective dots at key points on their body.

By tracking the dots with its visual system and computing limb and joint movements to match what it sees, this motion can then be "learned" by the robot and repeated.

In addition, the robots can respond in limited ways to body language and tone of voice by changing their own facial expressions, stance and vocal inflection.

Controlled by a motion-capture interface, Geminoid HI-1 can imitate Ishiguro's body and facial movements, and it can reproduce his voice in sync with his motion and posture.

Manufactured in Japan and called a Geminoid-DK,[2] its actions are controlled remotely by a person operating a computer, but it is programmed with Schärfe's own unique body movements, such as shrugs and glances.

[3] A precedent for this type of humanoid robot is in the Audio-Animatronics exhibit "Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln" presented at the State of Illinois Pavilion at the 1964 New York World's Fair created by WED Enterprises and appearing again soon thereafter at Disneyland.