Welcome to Project Aiko
This is the official Project Aiko website which talks about the making of a gynoid called Aiko. The original goal of Aiko was to help our aging population to do simple tasks like make tea and coffee, tell them the weather, read a magazine or remind them to take their medication at the correct time. There are many applications for Aiko in the home, office or public places.
Aiko was built in my basement using credit card loans and my entire savings account as funding. One of my dreams is to make Aiko walk and do other house chores. I cannot do this without your donations and support. The donations will go towards new motors, sensors and mainboards to design Aiko’s new arm and leg systems.
Aiko is the first android to react to physical stimuli and mimic pain. This technology could be applied to people born with or who have undergone amputations. Aiko is the first step towards a life-like mechanical limb that has the ability to feel physical sensations.
I started to build Aiko on August 15, 2007. About a month and a half later, Aiko version1 was completed. Aiko made her first public appearance at the Hobby Show on November 2007 at the Toronto International Center and then at the Ontario Science Center a week later. Aiko is currently bilingual and can speak English and Japanese. Additional languages are a future possibility.
Current Donation: 6 motors (require 14 total - 7 motors per leg)
Link
Link
Aiko's Secret
Height 152cm Bust: 82cm Waist: 57cm Hip: 84cm
Height 5 ft Bust: 32" Waist: 23" Hip: 33"
Even though it only took 1.5 months to build Aiko’s exterior, the B.R.A.I.N.S software running Aiko was a work in progress for many years.
Just a fun fact:
Aiko is the only female that I’ve known that gains weight every month, but her figure stays the same!
I recently finished watching the Japanese TV movie, “Boku no Kanojo wa Cyborg” (僕の彼女はサイボーグ). I couldn’t help but notice that there were striking similarities between the main character in this movie and myself such as having the same ambitions, the same hobbies, the same birthday. Anyway, after watching this movie, it makes me wondering if it’s possible to make a cyborg, like the one in the movie, with fully human emotions and feelings.
About Aiko's Technology
With our current technology it is impossible to design software and hardware to mimic all systems of life. However, I have tried my best to designing an artificial intelligence system which uses both dynamic software and hardware linked together to mimic part of human behaviour. By using Bio Robot Artificial Intelligence Neural System (aka B.R.A.I.N.S) software together with a custom designed Humanoid (aka Aiko), we hope one day we will make an android as close to a human as much as possible.
Building a robot that will look humanoid is a very complicated but fascinating experience. The differences between robot and human are that we have feelings and emotions and robots do not. It is currently impossible to build a robot that will have the same feelings and emotions as us, but we can start by building a robot that looks human, one that can read, recognize objects, and interact with the surroundings.
Aiko has the ability to talk and interact with human (13,000+ sentences). Aiko can read books, newspapers (print font size at least 12 pts). She has the ability to solve math problems displayed to her visually. Aiko has the ability to see color patterns on the clothes you are wearing. Aiko in theory has the ability to bring you your orange juice or coffee. In other words, Aiko can distinguish between the different drinks. She can also recognize simple foods such as Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, Sandwiches and even toys. Aiko has the ability to recognize the faces of family members, or Aiko can be programmed to activate defense mode when it does not recognize the person’s face in the house such as in the case of an intruder. When you are about to go outside, Aiko can tell you to bring an umbrella if it is going to rain or wear warmer clothes if it is windy.
Software B.R.A.I.N.S
The software is programmed in C, C# and Basic, and is constantly updated. BRAINS software controls speech, reading, math, vision, colors, hearing, automation and sensors. It controls reading temperatures to face and 3-D object recognition. In other words, it is literally the brain and heart of Aiko. In additional to controlling Aiko’s functions,the software can control Robot kits such as Kondo KHR2 through voice activation, automation and basic recognition. The BRAINS software is designed to interact with the surrounding environment, process it, and record the information into its internal memory. Once the internal memory is at full capacity, the information can be transferred into the server data base. The information can be shared for current and future robots. There are few things that no matter what I do, the software can not give Aiko an Emotion or a Soul. The BRAINS software is not even close to human AI,but as with any journey, one step at a time.
The Bio Robot Artificial Intelligence Neural System (BRAINS) is copyrighted by Trung Le under Canadian Intellecutal Property Office.
As of today the only Company ever to use the BRAINS software are:
BRAINS Full Version:
Aiko
Brains Lite Version: Work with Kumotek to design key elements for Interactive Robot
Intel Robot Arti. (Intel Arti - Kumotek)
Atom (Kumotek Interactive Robot for Nano TX 2008)
specifications
can control upto 8 camera with IEEE 1394 interface
can control upto 32 sensors, including gyro and acceleometer.
control micro controller, servo motors
control automation
control speech
control math recognition
control reading recognition
control color recognition
control motion recognition
control face recognition
control 3-D Object recognition
control AI conversation
control interaction with the surrounding
Hardware
Every week I upgrade Aiko's internal hardware. Aiko will undergoes major upgrade after the New Year.
Specification
Height: 152cm
Microprocessor: LS372 and C7 Board
Micro Controller: 5-8
8Gig solid state HD with 4Gig internal memory
Central Data 1000-1500Gig
Power source: Mn-Polymer 7.2V and 12.0V
Motors: Max 130kg.cm precise feedback is provided by the military grade, stainless steel potentiometer
Motors speed: Max 0.12sec at 60 degree
23 (36) DOF
2x gyros
2cameras, 1x1ccd (1x3ccd)
Control by Internal 32 bits OS
Aiko movable joints
Can be use for Aiko or for human. Life-like mechanical limb that has the ability to feel physical sensation.
(Control by human muscle) special senors and controller will attach to the human's muscle.
In other words, controlling the hand with our muscles.
Human Brain >> Nerve Impluse >> Muscle >> Aiko's Hand
This technology can be beneficial for people born with or who have undergone amputations.
The hand can pick up small items such as beer's cap, to large items including coffee cup.
The artificial hand is controlled by two microcontrollers, which can be easilily modified to fit in any robotic project.
1) 5 movable fingers
2) Compact size. Same as human's hand
3) Will have complete sensors for feedback
4) Low Power consumption 5V
5) Can be use for Aiko. or human
6) 14 movable joints
source & more info: http://www.projectaiko.com/
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