PaPeRo
Encyclopedia
The PaPeRo which stands for "Partner-type-Personal-Robot
", is a personal robot
developed by Japanese firm NEC Corporation. It is noted for its cute appearance and facial recognition system
. The robot's development began in 1997 with the first prototype, the R100. The name PaPeRo was adopted in 2001.
PaPeRo has been researched and developed with the intent to be a partner with human beings and its being able to live together with them. For this reason, it has various basic functions for the purpose of interacting with people.
Since the original introduction of PaPeRo, there have been a few different versions, including a Childcare Version, 2003 and 2005 revised versions, and "PaPe-Jiro", a robotic comedian. In 2006, a virtual PaPeRo was released for use in any PC running the Windows
operating system and the Pocket PC
, which can be used to program or monitor the use of the PaPeRo operating system.
For PaPeRo to interact with people and perform autonomous actions, it must understand information on the conditions of, and outside, the location where it has been put. For this reason, various devices have been included to detect the outside area, such as a CCD camera, microphone, ultrasonic sensors, etc.
In spring 2009, NEC introduced PaPeRo Mini, weighing half of the current PaPeRo model, with physical dimensions roughly half the size of the original. The PaPeRo Mini has several enhanced abilities, and has a small LCD monitor on the front of its chest.
, obtain a weather report or information about a person's fortune and then say if today is a "recommended day." If PaPeRo is in a good mood, it will dance to please people.
Basically, PaPeRo has a cheerful character that enjoys speaking with people, but will change depending on the way it interacts with people. Changes in character are expressed by the way it speaks, its voice quality, its music, and the way it moves. Here are PaPeRo's representative characters.
Leader PaPeRo— This character was developed first. It is easy going and does what it likes. It likes talking with people and is good at imitation and dancing. It dances according to its mood, adapting to the march, which is the theme music for Leader PaPeRo. A cute voice and manner of speaking are special features.
Knowledgeable PaPeRo— This character will inform people of various information on the Internet. It will not say what it likes or dislikes, but people can interpret its feelings from its slight gestures. If people speak to it in any way they wish, it will sulk or become naughty. PaPeRo talks in a polite manner using speech synthesis.
Dancing PaPeRo— This character is a little bit headstrong, but really likes to dance and is happy if people praise it. It has different theme music than Leader PaPeRo and has a specialty dance that it matches to the music. Using speech syntheses it talks in a friendly tone of voice.
Lazy PaPeRo— If people do not interact with PaPeRo, it will become lazy. If people answer its questions and set it up properly, it will become serious.
Computer PaPeRo— This character does what people say, but does not speak to people. If treated affectionately, such as praising it or rubbing it, PaPeRo will move around and talk to people. Like robots in the old days, it will speak in a monotonous voice.
Domestic robot
A domestic robot is a robot used for household chores. Thus far, there are only a few limited models, though science fiction writers and other speculators have suggested that they could become more common in the future...
", is a personal robot
Robot
A robot is a mechanical or virtual intelligent agent that can perform tasks automatically or with guidance, typically by remote control. In practice a robot is usually an electro-mechanical machine that is guided by computer and electronic programming. Robots can be autonomous, semi-autonomous or...
developed by Japanese firm NEC Corporation. It is noted for its cute appearance and facial recognition system
Facial recognition system
A facial recognition system is a computer application for automatically identifying or verifying a person from a digital image or a video frame from a video source...
. The robot's development began in 1997 with the first prototype, the R100. The name PaPeRo was adopted in 2001.
Since the original introduction of PaPeRo, there have been a few different versions, including a Childcare Version, 2003 and 2005 revised versions, and "PaPe-Jiro", a robotic comedian. In 2006, a virtual PaPeRo was released for use in any PC running the Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
operating system and the Pocket PC
Pocket PC
A Pocket PC is also known by Microsoft as a 'Windows Mobile Classic device'. It is a hardware specification for a handheld-sized computer, personal digital assistant , that runs the Microsoft 'Windows Mobile Classic' operating system...
, which can be used to program or monitor the use of the PaPeRo operating system.
For PaPeRo to interact with people and perform autonomous actions, it must understand information on the conditions of, and outside, the location where it has been put. For this reason, various devices have been included to detect the outside area, such as a CCD camera, microphone, ultrasonic sensors, etc.
In spring 2009, NEC introduced PaPeRo Mini, weighing half of the current PaPeRo model, with physical dimensions roughly half the size of the original. The PaPeRo Mini has several enhanced abilities, and has a small LCD monitor on the front of its chest.
Specifications
- Height: 385 mm
- Width: 248 mm
- Depth: 245 mm
- Weight: 5.0 kg
- Continuous operating time: 2 to 3 hours
- Battery charging time: 2 to 3 hours
- Number of recognizable words: about 3,000, in speaking mode
- Number of speaking words: about 3,000
Personalities
PaPeRo is a little helper during the day and can play games with people. When asked questions like "Is today a good day for a date?", or "Is today a good day for a drive?", PaPeRo will connect to the InternetInternet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
, obtain a weather report or information about a person's fortune and then say if today is a "recommended day." If PaPeRo is in a good mood, it will dance to please people.
Basically, PaPeRo has a cheerful character that enjoys speaking with people, but will change depending on the way it interacts with people. Changes in character are expressed by the way it speaks, its voice quality, its music, and the way it moves. Here are PaPeRo's representative characters.
Leader PaPeRo— This character was developed first. It is easy going and does what it likes. It likes talking with people and is good at imitation and dancing. It dances according to its mood, adapting to the march, which is the theme music for Leader PaPeRo. A cute voice and manner of speaking are special features.
Knowledgeable PaPeRo— This character will inform people of various information on the Internet. It will not say what it likes or dislikes, but people can interpret its feelings from its slight gestures. If people speak to it in any way they wish, it will sulk or become naughty. PaPeRo talks in a polite manner using speech synthesis.
Dancing PaPeRo— This character is a little bit headstrong, but really likes to dance and is happy if people praise it. It has different theme music than Leader PaPeRo and has a specialty dance that it matches to the music. Using speech syntheses it talks in a friendly tone of voice.
Lazy PaPeRo— If people do not interact with PaPeRo, it will become lazy. If people answer its questions and set it up properly, it will become serious.
Computer PaPeRo— This character does what people say, but does not speak to people. If treated affectionately, such as praising it or rubbing it, PaPeRo will move around and talk to people. Like robots in the old days, it will speak in a monotonous voice.