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Affeto, the robo-baby, is creepy in its realism, which is what the team from Osaka University aims to accomplish as they use robotics to study "how humans' higher cognitive functions develop," according to a project description.
Ultimately, the robot will be used in behavioral experiments. For now, the researchers are trying to "build a realistic child robot with a muscle-skeletal system."
The torso's flexibility comes from 22 pneumatic actuators in its body.
In the video below you can see that Affeto's torso is approaching the realistic stage. At one point, it hits itself in the face with "babyish looseness."
I wonder if they realize what they are doing.
I would guess that their funding sources might but that they probably don't.
1) Convince people that we are all just animated machines.
2) Use that argument to replace us all with machines.
3) No "pesky humans" running around complaining about not enough freedom!
Have you ever wondered what all these "behavioral experiments" are really for?