Robot loves and loves and loves!
What do you get when you add:
1. One robot at Toshiba’s Akimu Robotic Research Institute taught to be affectionate
& 2. One lab assistant that spends lots of time with said robot
ANSWER: Robot who won’t stop hugging one terrified lab assistant.
I don’t know whether to be terrified or to completely adore this robot who doesn’t know how to let go.
The trouble all started when a young female intern began to spend several hours each day with Kenji, testing his systems and loading new software routines. When it came time to leave one evening, however, Kenji refused to let her out of his lab enclosure and used his bulky mechanical body to block her exit and hug her repeatedly. The intern was only able to escape after she had frantically phoned two senior staff members to come and temporarily de-activate Kenji.
