- Title: UAE: Abu Dhabi-based Pal Technology unveils world's "strongest" robot
- Date: 12th June 2008
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) PAL TECHNOLOGY'S LATEST HUMANOID ROBOT ''REEM-B'' SAYING: ''Good evening your Highness, or should I say ''Peace Be Upon You''. This is the first time I have met royalty so forgive me if I seem a little nervous.'' OFFICIALS AND MEMBERS OF ABU DHABI'S ROYAL FAMILY WATCHING UNVEILING CEREMONY OF ''REEM-B'' (SOUNDBITE) (English) PROFESSOR OF ARTIFICIAL I
- Embargoed: 27th June 2008 13:00
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- Topics: Science / Technology,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
- Reuters ID: LVACQYXUXQ7SB1OWW0F60O3BXMJQ
- Story Text: Abu Dhabi based Pal Technology unveils REEM-B, its latest in Humanoid Robotics and the world's "strongest" robot.
It walks, talks, recognises faces and can lift 25 percent its own weight.
Designers at the Abu Dhabi-based Pal Technology say their latest in Humanoid Robotics, REEM-B, is fully autonomous, making it the Arab World's most sophisticated machine of its kind, and one which can lift the most weight of robot.
The humanoid robot was unveiled on Wednesday (June 11) in Abu Dhabi before Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, and an audience of other royal family members and dignitaries.
''Good evening your Highness, or should I say ''Peace Be Upon You,"
REEM-B said as it walked on stage, using the Muslim greeting.
"This is the first time I have met royalty so forgive me if I seem a little nervous,'' REEM-B added.
Hosting the ceremony was renowned Artificial Intelligence and Robotics professor from Britain's Sheffield University Noel Sharkey, who explained REEM-B'S technological capabilities to the audience.
''This is a very clever piece of technology, I've never seen another robot do it (navigate) like this. He's got laser sensors on his feet, just here, little black sensors and what you can see here, that's why we have a lip (stage extension) on the stage, you can see here, he's building up a map,'' Sharkey explained to the audience, outlining how the robot was able to sense the layout of the stage and avoid pitfalls.
What distinguishes REEM-B from most of the world's robots, including Honda's famous ''Asimo'', is its ability to lift a quarter of its own weight, making REEM-B the strongest robot ever built.
Standing at 1.5 meters and weighing 60 kilogrammes, REEM-B is, according to Sharkey, amongst the top 10 robots in the world, although the pioneers in robotics have historically been post-industrial nations like Japan and South-Korea.
''There's been a team of 10 people working really hard for three years in darkened rooms, all night, getting this robot ready and I think I would like to call them in now for a congratulations from us all,'' said Sharkey.
Pal Technologies says it developed the project with no outside intervention and created REEM-B to help humans with sophisticated tasks. The team consisted of software engineers, mechanical engineers and artificial intelligence experts. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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