Robotics

Danny Choo brings modern twist to the clockwork doll

Danny Choo brings modern twist to the clockwork doll
Danny Choo's Smart Doll combines anime-style vinyl dolls with robotics technology in a commercial product for the first time
Danny Choo's Smart Doll combines anime-style vinyl dolls with robotics technology in a commercial product for the first time
View 12 Images
The Smart Doll was designed using CAD software to incorporate the electronics without sacrificing its physical appearance
1/12
The Smart Doll was designed using CAD software to incorporate the electronics without sacrificing its physical appearance
A look at the Smart Doll's AeonFrame, the robotic endoskeleton which fits inside the doll's vinyl body
2/12
A look at the Smart Doll's AeonFrame, the robotic endoskeleton which fits inside the doll's vinyl body
The AeonFrame uses 24 servo motors to move its head and limbs
3/12
The AeonFrame uses 24 servo motors to move its head and limbs
The Smart Doll will have robotic legs but won't be able to walk
4/12
The Smart Doll will have robotic legs but won't be able to walk
Delicate micro servos are stripped of their plastic casings in order to fit inside Smart Doll's thin limbs
5/12
Delicate micro servos are stripped of their plastic casings in order to fit inside Smart Doll's thin limbs
Micro servos are stripped of their plastic casings right down to the gears in order to fit inside the Smart Doll's vinyl body
6/12
Micro servos are stripped of their plastic casings right down to the gears in order to fit inside the Smart Doll's vinyl body
The first batch of Smart Dolls will be based on Danny Choo's website mascot
7/12
The first batch of Smart Dolls will be based on Danny Choo's website mascot
The Smart Doll mid-assembly
8/12
The Smart Doll mid-assembly
The Smart Doll will be able to interact by posing and "speaking" set phrases, and can be controlled with an Android smart phone
9/12
The Smart Doll will be able to interact by posing and "speaking" set phrases, and can be controlled with an Android smart phone
The Smart Doll stands 60 cm / 23.6 in tall
10/12
The Smart Doll stands 60 cm / 23.6 in tall
Danny Choo's Smart Doll combines anime-style vinyl dolls with robotics technology in a commercial product for the first time
11/12
Danny Choo's Smart Doll combines anime-style vinyl dolls with robotics technology in a commercial product for the first time
Samsung created a robot doll called April in 2003 but its servos were too big to fit inside its body, so they ran wires through the limbs to an external servo hub
12/12
Samsung created a robot doll called April in 2003 but its servos were too big to fit inside its body, so they ran wires through the limbs to an external servo hub
View gallery - 12 images

In Japan, clockwork automata (karakuri ningyō) emerged in the 17th century, and were mainly sold to wealthy or important people who used them to impress guests. These little mechanical dolls have an illustrious history, but like their Western counterparts they largely went out of fashion by the 20th century. Now, a modern version of these automata that mixes popular anime-style vinyl dolls and hobby robotics is on its way thanks to Danny Choo of Culture Japan.

The Smart Doll is an interactive 60 cm (23.6 in) tall vinyl doll with a robotic endoskeleton called an "AeonFrame" engineered to fit inside of its slender body. The AeonFrame contains 24 incredibly small servo motors and control boards, as well as sensors for touch, ultrasound, vision, sound, and position. These allow the doll to tilt its head, move its arms, and shift its torso all on its own or on demand. Just don't expect it to smile or wink at you like Hanson Robotics' Robokind.

Cramming all of the necessary electronics inside such a slim form presents a major challenge. In 2003 researchers at Samsung developed an unrelated robotic doll called April that was designed as a kind of social experiment. April was about the same size, but its servos were too big to fit inside its body. The solution was to run wires through the limbs that connected to an external servo hub hidden beneath the robot.

Micro servo motors ensure that Smart Doll will maintain its figure, but they're not without some drawbacks. "While the whole frame can be moved without an electric current, we recommend that you pose her with the power on and use the controls on your Bluetooth paired Android smart phone instead," suggests Choo. Tiny components like those in the AeonFrame are delicate, and I foresee many broken joints in the future as the dolls are bumped or fall over.

Micro servos are stripped of their plastic casings right down to the gears in order to fit inside the Smart Doll's vinyl body
Micro servos are stripped of their plastic casings right down to the gears in order to fit inside the Smart Doll's vinyl body

Another issue is that the low torque in the leg servos prevents Smart Doll from walking. It falls short of some hobby projects like the Dancing Dolls, which have thick legs to accommodate powerful servos, enabling them to perform some relatively fancy footwork. However, like the vinyl dolls it is based on the Smart Doll can be posed in a standing position.

Besides posing for you, the Smart Doll will repeat canned lines and notify you of Twitter and Facebook messages, and you'll be able to purchase downloadable content like new phrases and motions. Besides the Mirai doll seen in the photos, the company will also sell the AeonFrame on its own for those who want to make their own doll or simply display it as-is.

Pricing hasn't be finalized, but I expect it's for serious doll collectors only. If robots are more your thing, you could opt for the EMA doll (originally released in 2008) or wait for Takara Tomy's self-transforming Transformer toy, both of which are likely to be considerably cheaper.

Watch the Smart Doll come to life in the video below.

Source: Danny Choo via 3ders

Smart Doll スマートドール

View gallery - 12 images
3 comments
3 comments
Daishi
Here is a photo of Danny Choo in his office: http://i.imgur.com/9WTJlWU.jpg
I guess it is pretty much what I was expecting. Another one for good measure: http://i.imgur.com/yG1Ux1x.jpg
People are more interesting than I am.
Pecos Pete
The new Cabbage Patch!
Matt Rings
The anime look is the bridge across the Uncanny Valley... actually, not uncanny at all.
maybe in a hundred years, all the full-size autonomous robots will look like anime characters.