Plan to teach baby robot to talk

**Adam** · 1st March 2008, 11:22 AM

Ruh roh!

Plan to teach baby robot to talk

The four-year project is due to start next month

A university in Devon is preparing to find out if a baby robot can be taught to talk.

Staff at the University of Plymouth will work with a 1m-high (3ft) humanoid baby robot called iCub.

Over the next four years robotics experts will work with language development specialists who research how parents teach children to speak.

Their findings could lead to the development of humanoid robots which learn, think and talk.

The project is believed to be the first of its kind in the world and typical experiments with the iCub robot will include activities such as inserting objects of various shapes into the corresponding holes in a box, serialising nested cups and stacking wooden blocks.

Artificial intelligence

The iCub, which will arrive at the university next year, will also be asked to name objects and actions so that it acquires basic phrases such as "robot puts stick on cube".

A consortium led by the University of Plymouth, a world leader in cognitive robotics research, beat competition from 31 others to win a £4.7m grant for the Italk - Integration and Transfer of Action and Language Knowledge in Robots - project.

The university's partners in the project include the University of Hertfordshire and others from across Europe.

Angelo Cangelosi, Professor in Artificial Intelligence said: "The outcome of the research will define the scientific and technological requirements for the design of humanoid robots able to develop complex behavioural, thinking and communication skills through individual and social learning."

**Solidchrome** · 1st March 2008, 12:18 PM

Very cool

Wonder what kind of accent it will have?

Kiminality · 1st March 2008, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solidchrome

Wonder what kind of accent it will have?

It's a university in Devon...

"Gerrof moi farrrm!"

**Solidchrome** · 1st March 2008, 02:00 PM

**Adri** · 3rd March 2008, 09:26 AM

Like a real talking kid doesn't chatter enough? Bah!

**Gnomy** · 3rd March 2008, 11:19 AM

Id teach it...

"Come with me and you will live" (Arnold quote from T2)

RMS Carpathia · 3rd March 2008, 01:17 PM

Should have been a robotic rat! Been smaller to make and sense they got that intelligence chip or whatever it probably would have fit with no problem less money as well... and it would be cute and cuddly!

-RMS Carpathia-

Arioch · 3rd March 2008, 02:28 PM

Is it just me, or does that iCub look like a baby borg from "I, Robot"? Life imitating art? Or vice versa?

**Adri** · 4th March 2008, 07:31 AM

I dunno but if that thing woke me up early in the morning wanting to play, I'd run shrieking from the house! It's creepy enough just in the pic.

Kinda remins me of this.

Cymbria Devereux · 4th March 2008, 09:52 AM

I think it would be a good teaching tool for these 14-16 year old girls who are so eager to get pregnant and have babies.

1st March 2008, 11:22 AM	#1
Adam "Can Set Custom Title" Join Date: Oct 1990 Posts: 6,456 Gold: 3,265 Thanks: 61 Thanked 959 Times in 319 Posts	Plan to teach baby robot to talk Ruh roh! Plan to teach baby robot to talk The four-year project is due to start next month A university in Devon is preparing to find out if a baby robot can be taught to talk. Staff at the University of Plymouth will work with a 1m-high (3ft) humanoid baby robot called iCub. Over the next four years robotics experts will work with language development specialists who research how parents teach children to speak. Their findings could lead to the development of humanoid robots which learn, think and talk. The project is believed to be the first of its kind in the world and typical experiments with the iCub robot will include activities such as inserting objects of various shapes into the corresponding holes in a box, serialising nested cups and stacking wooden blocks. Artificial intelligence The iCub, which will arrive at the university next year, will also be asked to name objects and actions so that it acquires basic phrases such as "robot puts stick on cube". A consortium led by the University of Plymouth, a world leader in cognitive robotics research, beat competition from 31 others to win a £4.7m grant for the Italk - Integration and Transfer of Action and Language Knowledge in Robots - project. The university's partners in the project include the University of Hertfordshire and others from across Europe. Angelo Cangelosi, Professor in Artificial Intelligence said: "The outcome of the research will define the scientific and technological requirements for the design of humanoid robots able to develop complex behavioural, thinking and communication skills through individual and social learning."

1st March 2008, 12:18 PM	#2
Solidchrome † Virtual hero- real life geek † Join Date: Jul 2007 Shard: europa Posts: 1,046 Gold: 218 My Mood: Thanks: 64 Thanked 76 Times in 41 Posts	Re: Plan to teach baby robot to talk Very cool Wonder what kind of accent it will have? Tovladian Soltyr- "..then I saw it was Solid and I was like "Ah ok" because we all know he's not the most complete box of crayons.." UOForums Need Your Donations- Click Here

1st March 2008, 02:00 PM	#4
Solidchrome † Virtual hero- real life geek † Join Date: Jul 2007 Shard: europa Posts: 1,046 Gold: 218 My Mood: Thanks: 64 Thanked 76 Times in 41 Posts	Re: Plan to teach baby robot to talk Tovladian Soltyr- "..then I saw it was Solid and I was like "Ah ok" because we all know he's not the most complete box of crayons.." UOForums Need Your Donations- Click Here

3rd March 2008, 09:26 AM	#5
Adri Wearing metal panties in a lightning storm Join Date: May 2004 Shard: Pacific/Landroval Posts: 3,850 Gold: 1,613 My Mood: Thanks: 211 Thanked 118 Times in 85 Posts Awards Showcase Total Awards: 2	Re: Plan to teach baby robot to talk Like a real talking kid doesn't chatter enough? Bah! We are all broken and wounded in this world. Some choose to grow strong at the broken places. --Harold J. Duarte-Bernhardt

3rd March 2008, 11:19 AM	#6
Gnomy Forum Legend Join Date: Sep 2006 Shard: Snowbourn - LOTRO Posts: 2,500 Gold: 16,595 My Mood: Blog Entries: 2 Thanks: 45 Thanked 46 Times in 35 Posts	Re: Plan to teach baby robot to talk Id teach it... "Come with me and you will live" (Arnold quote from T2) Last edited by Gnomy; 3rd March 2008 at 11:19 AM..

3rd March 2008, 01:17 PM	#7
RMS Carpathia Madien of the Great Blue Join Date: Jun 2006 Shard: Absolutely playing no games Posts: 2,045 Gold: 5,857 Thanks: 6 Thanked 17 Times in 11 Posts	Re: Plan to teach baby robot to talk Should have been a robotic rat! Been smaller to make and sense they got that intelligence chip or whatever it probably would have fit with no problem less money as well... and it would be cute and cuddly! -RMS Carpathia- -Back to the Future 2- Marty McFly: There he is, Doc! Let's land on him, we'll cripple his car. Doctor Emmett L. Brown: Marty, he's in a '46 Ford, we're in a DeLorean. He'd rip through us like we were tin foil. -UOF Chatbox- [21-11, 03:48] TMS Tasty Truffle Trifle Trout ---- holy truffles! O_O

3rd March 2008, 02:28 PM	#8
Arioch Join Date: Apr 2007 Shard: Lake Superior Posts: 533 Gold: 64,442 My Mood: Thanks: 135 Thanked 69 Times in 43 Posts	Re: Plan to teach baby robot to talk Is it just me, or does that iCub look like a baby borg from "I, Robot"? Life imitating art? Or vice versa? Lord L'arr Hamerfeld

4th March 2008, 07:31 AM	#9
Adri Wearing metal panties in a lightning storm Join Date: May 2004 Shard: Pacific/Landroval Posts: 3,850 Gold: 1,613 My Mood: Thanks: 211 Thanked 118 Times in 85 Posts Awards Showcase Total Awards: 2	Re: Plan to teach baby robot to talk I dunno but if that thing woke me up early in the morning wanting to play, I'd run shrieking from the house! It's creepy enough just in the pic. Kinda remins me of this. We are all broken and wounded in this world. Some choose to grow strong at the broken places. --Harold J. Duarte-Bernhardt

4th March 2008, 09:52 AM	#10
Cymbria Devereux Join Date: Jun 2007 Shard: Chessie Posts: 208 Gold: 905 My Mood: Thanks: 2 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Plan to teach baby robot to talk I think it would be a good teaching tool for these 14-16 year old girls who are so eager to get pregnant and have babies.

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