Patent No. 12208507 recently granted to Fikret Korhan Turan and Gül Coruh of Istanbul.
The invention relates to a humanoid interview robot used in the field of human resources (HR), which can conduct job interviews.
Communication with the candidate interviewed by the interview robot according to the invention is provided via camera (U1), microphone (U2), odor sensor (U3), speaker (U4) and touch sensors (U5). The camera (U1) is preferably mounted on the eye of the interview robot, microphone (U2) is mounted on the ears, odor sensor (U3) is mounted on its nose, speaker (U4) is mounted on its mouth, and touch sensors (U5) are mounted on its chin or synthetic skin. These elements enable the candidate to respond verbally or in writing to the questions asked to determine the utility functions for economic, social and environmental qualities by specifying his/her identity information.
Apart from their technical capabilities, U1, U2, U3, U4 and U5 elements are customized to collect all kinds of visual, auditory, tactile, etc. data about the candidate so as to include qualifications or competencies such as the candidate's appearance, his/her self-care treatment, stress status, etc. in the decision-making process.
The interview robot has odor sensors. It can smell your fear.
Catie Cuan has carved out a niche for herself as a pioneer of choreorobotics (dancing with robots). Through her dancing she hopes to help "dispel fears of a robot takeover."
Also known as the John Deere Walking Tractor. It was like a real-life version of the walkers from Star Wars (minus laser cannons). Details from Forestry Thoughts:
It was made by a subsidiary of Timberjack, called Plustech Oy, and designing began in 1995 and the following prototype, called Plusjack was presented in 1999. Deere & Company purchased the company Timberjack in 2000. And in 2005, Timberjack Oy became John Deere Forestry Oy. Actually the designing department of John DeereĀ“s forestry machines still is in Tampere, where they design everything.
There were few reasons why there were only two ever made. One was high price and other main one was its slowness in the field. It is a remarkable piece of engineering ahead of its time. One of these machines is at display at the Lusto, at the Finnish Forest Museum. And the other one I think, was shipped to USA to be displayed at some John Deere exhibition.
In 1966, Golfcraft of Escondido, California debuted a robot golfer whose job was to test new golf clubs and balls. They held a contest to name him, and after receiving over 1500 entries decided to call him "Mr. Analyst."
More details from the Long Beach Press-Telegram (Aug 21 1966):
The perfect golfer is Mr. Analyst, a robot whose job it is to scientifically test and analyze new designs and materials for golfing clubs. He works for Golfcraft, a manufacturing firm based in Escondido.
The robot is the answer to all those who have ever left a course in disgust, muttering something about that not being a fit game for man or beast.
Mr. Analyst is the product of the tinkering of William J. Glasson, a golfer who also has concluded, from time to time, that it was a game fit not for man or beast.
Glasson started toying with his mechanical monster while trying to figure out scientifically how to lower his five handicap on the links. At the time he had graduated from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and was working on the Falcon missile.
"The monster was still a crude thing then," Glasson reminisces, "mounted on a wooden tripod. And I had to crank it manually to get it to work. At first it would only hit the ball about 125 yards. But, after making several modifications and adjustments it started belting it 200 yards and I got excited about its possibilities."
At a recent demonstration, the robot showed graphically how it has been improved by socking balls one after another in low, screaming trajectories to a distance of 400 yards on the fly. Even that isn't the most amazing aspect of its skills. Its accuracy at this distance is what is truly amazing. All the balls landed within a circle only 15 feet in diameter.
image source: Offbeat Golf (1998) by Bob Loeffelbein
Glasson was granted patent no. 3,373,612 for his invention. His patent drawings show a non-humanized version of his machine.
A 'mentally disturbed' robot at the World Fair in San Diego, 1935/36. A robot provides entertainment at the California Pacific Exposition in San Diego, [but] instead of giving the planned speech, it suddenly began to speak in a boisterous cabaret voice and afterwards emitted the sounds of an orchestra. After a little bewilderment the cause for this 'mental confusion' was discovered: due to a circuit error, the robot had transmitted the program of the exhibition's broadcast station. The photo shows the robot during a thorough inspection of its speech organs and its circuits.
WABOT-2 was created in the early 1980s, but I can't find any info on what's become of him since then. Whoever now owns him should be renting him out to play at weddings and funerals — recoup some of that $1.2 million it cost to build him.
Paul Di Filippo
Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over thirty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. He has recently begun blogging on many curious topics with three fellow writers at The Inferior 4+1.