What is a humanoid?

Robots are fascinating machines that are imagined to coexist with humans when one envisages the future. In most parts of the world, robotics technology has become an important part of everyday lives. Robots that used to exist as factory automatons and as research ‘articles’ in solitary labs in universities are now gaining places in our lives in a multitude of roles. The expanding role of robots coincides with the sole purpose of improving the lives of mankind. Humanoids; possess even greater interest as their anthropomorphic body structure are akin to actual human and they are regarded as the future of robotics.

Excerpt from IEEE Spectrum

By definition:

A humanoid robot is a robot with its overall appearance based on that of the human body. In general humanoid robots have a torso with a head, two arms and two legs, although some forms of humanoid robots may model only part of the body, for example, from the waist up. 

Some humanoid robots may also have a 'face', with 'eyes' and 'mouth'. 

Androids are humanoid robots built to resemble a male human, and Gynoids are humanoid robots built to resemble a human female.

Source: sciencedaily.com

Some popular examples of humanoid robots are: ASIMO (Honda), DARWIN (Korean robot manufacturer ROBOTIS), HOVIS Eco Humanoid, NAO (Aldebaran Robotics) and many more.

From the inception of ‘Astro Boy’ cartoon (a human-like robot) half a century ago to the advent of the ever so popular humanoid ASIMO whose phenomenon began in 1986, Japan is definitely the birth place for the idea of a humanoid in our world today. The Japanese have established that humanoids are not a dream but a palpable technological result. Sociable humanoid robots have become the catalyst as to how the world perceives machines. However, the ‘robot fever’ amongst the Japanese has not really become a catalyst to any significant real business. Many humanoid robots have been produced, but only as a platform for experiments and to satisfy the engineering curio. There is an unfulfilled need for an affordable, mass produced humanoid in the market for robot researchers who want to play and work and not develop a functional robot.

In 2005, a French SME had answered this call. Aldebaran- Robotics had marked a breakthrough when it decided to develop and market humanoid robots as products that are affordable with multiple features. The first version, NAO, was dedicated to research organizations who wish to concentrate mainly on software technology. The guidelines adopted Aldebaran-Robotics company are modularity, affordability, performance and open architecture. NAO is a manifestation from robot manufacturers all over the world in attaining a platform for both a sociable and research intent.

The research trend in humanoid robots is experiencing a paradigm shift from independent research towards socially assistive robotics and human-friendly robots. However, the most common concern on the use of robots in human lives is the cost factor. 

Interestingly, I just came across another article from IEEE Spectrum (posted on 18 Mar 2014). Currently the NAO robot costs at least USD16,000 which is a lot of money for a little humanoid, no matter how cute and capable. Aldebaran Robotics is trying to change that and it has just announced that a NAO will now cost $8,000.

While your mind is busy digesting this piece of news, feast yourself with this video of NAO jumping out of an airplane :)

Till then, take care people!