M3 Kindy and Noby: Creepy Japanese Robots [The Uncanny Valley Opens For Business With New Japanese Robots]

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It’s hard to look at the crop of robots coming out of Japan and not be unnerved. How will these products change our lives? How will this massive new development affect us? For an idea, we can look at two new models coming out, the Noby and the M3 Kindy.

The Noby is designed to approximate a nine month old baby, while the M3 Kindy is geared more toward the size, weight (about fifty pounds), and look of a five year old child.

The Kindy boasts cameras for eyes and microphones for ears, and seems to be geared toward studying reactions and how children deal with objects, since it can manipulate objects and walk all on its own without aid. The Noby, meanwhile, is covered in a layer of tactile sensors underneath a soft psuedo-skin that looks more like a training simulator for babies.

There’s no doubt that science fiction makes us shudder at the existence of these little fellas, but could they do some good for mankind? More power to them if they can, but I’m stocking up on flamethrowers in case one gets a “Cogito, ergo I’m going to take over the world” vibe.