Pneuborn 7 and 13 are two robo-babies built by robotics researchers at Osaka University’s Hosada Laboratory. Named after the air-powered actuators that simulate the muscles on their skeletal structures, the Pneuborns are designed to explore motor development in babies. Little Pneuborn 7 simulates the crawling of a 7 month old baby, and would almost be cute save for its lidless staring eyeballs. Pneuborn 13 simulates the walking ability of a 13 month old baby, and has the misfortune of having no eyes at all.
For more cutting edge but vaguely unsettling Japanese research robots, see the Elfoid phone and Geminoid|DK lifelike humanoid replica.
via i09
photos by Kenichi Narioka
