Photos: Bots on the catwalk

By Bill Detwiler April 25, 2006, 3:54 AM PDT billdetwiler

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Yoshikazu Tsuno/AFP/Getty Images

The latest FT (female type) humanoid robot by Kyoto University’s Tomotaka Takahashi poses like a fashion model at the creator’s lab in western Japan on April 22. The bot is equipped with 23 actuators and two gyro sensors on its carbon fiber and plastic svelte body. It stands about 14 inches and weighs less than 2 pounds.

Yoshikazu Tsuno/AFP/Getty Images

Takahashi’s FT isn’t the first robot to go the supermodel route. This mannequin robot, named “Palette,” uses motion-capture technology to strike glamorous poses aimed at making clothing more appealing to consumers. It can also identify bags shoppers are carrying and pass the information along to stores for marketing purposes. Designed by Tatsuya Matsui of Flower Robotics, it debuted at a February 2005 press event in Tokyo.

By Bill Detwiler

Bill Detwiler is the Editor for Technical Content and Ecosystem at Celonis. He is the former Editor in Chief of TechRepublic and previous host of TechRepublic's Dynamic Developer podcast and Cracking Open, CNET and TechRepublic's popular online show.

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