A Humanoid robot Japanese company to take astronauts to the ISS

Japanese officials said Thursday the development of a small humanoid robot speaker to send an astronaut to keep company with Japanese aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

Researchers at the University of Tokyo, associated in particular with the robotic division of Toyota, the Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the advertising group Dentsu and other Japanese companies, will make an android 34 inches high capable of maintaining the conversation naturally, in Japanese, with Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata from the second half of next year.

Japan has called Kibo space dedicated to experimentation in the various ISS. 

The robot, which can walk, recognize faces and save images, should be completed in February.

According to the images presented by the designers of the project, it should look a little futuristic astronaut, also recalling "Astro Boy" (or Astroboy) devised by the late manga artist Osamu Tezuka.

A public appeal was launched to find a name for this little humanoid and his twin who remain on the ground and will eventually help.

The objective of this project is to study in particular how a robot companion can provide moral support to people who are isolated for a long period of time. 

"AFP "