Robot Can Speak, Pour Drinks

An Einstein-faced robot speaks fluently, and a bartender robot makes a cocktail at a café.

These “dream robots” will appear at the Asia and Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy (MOCIE), the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), and the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) will introduce these robots at the opening ceremony of the APEC’s Information and Technology (IT) exhibition to be held at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center (BEXCO) on November 15.

The robot expected to draw the greatest public attention is the “Hubo FX-1,” which a person directly can operate while onboard. This robot can hold up to 90 kilograms and move forward and backward and change direction as a controller operates it by using a joystick.

“Albert Hubo,” which has an Einstein face, features various facial expressions and emotions while walking like a human, and is another robot worthy of notice. “T-Rot,” which acts as a bartender and makes drinks at the request of a customer, and “Kibo,” which lip-syncs and dances to the music, will also make their appearances.

The robot exhibition of IT Pavilion will occur from November 15 to 21 but will be open to the public only on November 20 and 21.

Chang-Won Kim changkim@donga.com