Korean scientists create "software robot," still gets stage fright

Oh, South Korea -- land of robots galore, ranging from the militaristic to the domestic servant-like -- can you just stop making any robot that we won't be envious of? We're not really sure how this one works though, but apparently scientists at the Korean Institute of Advanced Science and Technology have just created a "sobot," or a software robot that can be transfered like a ghost in the machine from computer to computer and from robot to robot (such as the MyBot, pictured here). The theory goes that in one application, a sobot could be serve as a nurse, being able to perform triage on incoming patients. However, when Wired News went to go check one out, "Rity" the sobot, got stage fright (not the first time we've heard of that from a Korean robot), and eventually arrived on screen in the form of a dog character with a less than pleasant attitude. Still, Korea's got 14 more years to get the bugs out of this one, right?

[Aaron @ Dec 2nd 2006 1:04AM]

Wow, interesting and creepy at the same time. Follow the link to the actual article, everybody.

[Zadillo @ Dec 2nd 2006 1:04AM]

Finally, it seems like we're getting closer to real-life robots that also conceivably look menacing enough that I will not be surprised when they rise up and enslave humanity.

[jessew @ Dec 2nd 2006 1:55AM]

hmmm sounds like reality imitating fiction you ask me.
any one else seen ghost in the shell?

[GTW @ Dec 2nd 2006 9:05AM]

Being a researcher in AI and machine learning, all I can say is that it actually it sounds like lame marketing buzz to increase research funding...

Robots have both hardware and software for their functioning just like anything else that can be programmed. So, transferring those software programs between compatible platforms is as high tech as browsing the same internet through Windows, Mac and Unix.

[Zadillo @ Dec 2nd 2006 12:14PM]

I did inititally think about GitS, but the main difference would be that the "ghosts" in that case were essentially the actual human soul. Although I guess especially in the "Stand Alone Complex" TV series they have been exploring the question of whether or not the AI's for the Tachikomas have "ghosts" or not.

[SrBlanco @ Dec 2nd 2006 2:01AM]

That is some SCARY stuff. Time to start stockpiling food and ammo.

[humpty @ Dec 2nd 2006 4:12AM]

You guys need EngadgetRobot

[Raharazod @ Dec 2nd 2006 7:37AM]

I think there needs to be an Engadget robot naming contest. I offer the EnBot and Engadge-o-bot as the first two entries.

[Jihan Joo @ Dec 2nd 2006 7:59AM]

It's supposed to be Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, or KAIST for short.

[Tech^Cellfish @ Dec 2nd 2006 10:18AM]

It may be true that it is a marketing trick

To me it sounds that these Koreans have been wathing "Ghost in the Shell" way too much

[quinn @ Dec 2nd 2006 11:03AM]

I will be really impressed when we can browse the same internet through Windows, Mac and Unix.

[telepheedian @ Dec 2nd 2006 9:22AM]

Joey!

[CT @ Dec 2nd 2006 10:50AM]

I for one welcome our hardware lacking overlords.

[bitstream @ Dec 2nd 2006 12:13PM]

Dude... the robot in the picture looks a LOT like the one they "built" in Revenge of the Nerds.

[Genome @ Dec 2nd 2006 7:56PM]

It would have to have some secure mechanism for allowing access to hardware, for it to become reality.

I mean, is that my chef-sbot or your assassin-sbot?
And which of the two is it when I turn my back?

coolness!