EveR-1

EveR-1, the world's second female android, can express human emotions and have a conversation in Korean and English.

EveR-1 (Korean: 에버원) is a female android, developed by a team of South Korean scientists from the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology in Korea University of Science and Technology. The project is headed by Baeg Moon-hong (Korean: 백문홍) and was unveiled to the public at Kyoyuk MunHwa HoeKwan in Seoul on May 4, 2006. Its name is derived from the combination of the Biblical "Eve" and the r from robot.

EveR-1 is a direct competitor of Actroid, which is being developed by Kokoro Dreams and Osaka University of Japan and was unveiled at the International Robot Exhibition in Tokyo in 2003. EveR-1 was built in a year at a cost of 300 million won (US$321,000) in state funds.

The creators said the humanoid's face is a composite of two well-known Korean actresses, while the torso is based on a singer, though the names of the celebrities were not revealed. The android weighs 50 kilograms and has a height of 160 centimeters.

The creators also said that EveR-1 can mimic the human emotions of happiness, sadness, anger, and surprise more naturally than its Japanese rival, while using a hydraulic system for certain movements. EveR-1 contains a total of 35 miniature motors located throughout its upper body, which enables EveR-1 to move its head, arms, and upper body and even move its lips in synchronization with the robot's speech. Its skin is made of synthetic, pliable silicone jelly that feels similar to human skin.

The android can recognize 400 Korean and English words, allowing it to respond to questions both verbally and through 15 facial expressions: EveR-1 will show displeasure if you poke her. The android also has motion data process sensors in its artificial eyes, enabling it to follow people with its eyes and head.

EveR-2

EveR-2 is more advanced than its predecessor, and is the first android in the world to have the ability to sing.^{[citation needed]}

EveR-2 is the successor of EveR-1, which performed at Robot World 2006 in Seoul^[1], has improved vision and ability to express emotions, as well as various other enhancements.^[2] Boredom is now an available emotion, along with the usual joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness. She sang the Korean ballad "I Will Close My Eyes For You" during the opening ceremony at the Robot World 2006 conference in Seoul, which made her the first android singer in the world.^{[citation needed]}

She is about 5'7" (170 cm) tall and weighs about 135 pounds (60 kg). Her silicone-covered face has a higher flexibility; 29 motors and dozens of joints provide 23 degrees of freedom for self-expression. In total, EveR-2 has 25 more degrees of freedom than EveR-1. Her improved speech recognition, voice synthesis and gesture expression technology allows for more sophisticated communication and interaction with humans. The small CCD cameras of EveR-1 have been upgraded to Wide range Small CCD cameras (90 degrees) for better vision. While the synthetic pliable silicone jelly only covered the face and hand with soft materials of the EveR-1 (while the rest was covered with hard material), EveR-2 has her whole body covered with the soft artificial skin.

Baek Moon-hong envisions educational and entertainment functions for the androids, from providing information in department stores and museums, to reading stories to children.

Future models

KITECH is currently developing EveR-3 and EveR-4, scheduled for release in 2010. The upgraded female androids are expected to walk, sing, dance, and have "substantially improved intelligence."

A male version is also currently being developed.

See also

• Korea University of Science and Technology
• Actroid, the first female android, with notes on Repliee R1 and Repliee Q1.
• Gynoid
• Meinü (a Chinese android)
• Android
• Persocom
• Robotics
• Uncanny valley

References

• "Korean Scientists Develop Female Android". Korea Times May 4 2006. http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/200605/kt2006050417203910160.htm. Retrieved 2006-05-05. 
• "Korea Unveils World's Second Android". Digital Chosunilbo May 4 2006. http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200605/200605040016.html. 
• ""국내 첫 인조인간로봇 `에버원` 태어났다". Daum.net (Korean) May 4, 2006. http://news.media.daum.net/digital/it/200605/04/Edaily/v12596404.html?_right_TOPIC=R10. 
• "I'm Your Guide". Science June 9 2006. http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/gca?SEARCHID=1&FULLTEXT=Ever-1&FIRSTINDEX=0&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&gca=312%2F5779%2F1449d&sendit.x=44&sendit.y=9&sendit=Get+all+checked+abstract%28s%29. 

1. ^ Korean Overseas Culture and Information Service news story
2. ^ Presentation on KITECH's site (PDF may take several minutes to load) - includes an annotated photograph of the complete Eve-R2 unit on page 11, and specifications on page 12. Lower resolution versions of these pictures and others may be found on AVING's site.