Why these scientists are teaching robots to give good hugs

Originally published at: https://boingboing.net/2018/06/06/why-these-scientists-are-teach.html

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No good can come of this.

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At first read the logo on the robot is “EROS”. :joy:

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As with everything in robotics, they should just wait for the spillover research from the sexbot industry. You know they’re probably way ahead.

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“Is that a vacuum tube in your pocket, or are you happy to see me?”’

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No thanks.

““We need four hugs a day for survival.”
That is utter BS.

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Yeah, I get way more hugs now that I have a 3yo and a 7mo, but I feel like I’m dying a lot faster than before…

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How about creepy hugs that you really could do without? How do those count?

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I just want a robot that gives ice cream.

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image

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gghugs

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Killbots need hugs too - but programs must complete…

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Temple Grandin’s first version of her hug-machine; very much a pre-prototype, made in college:

squeeze-person

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Children raised with Hugbot in place of natural parents were 39% more likely to vote Republican and torture small animals.

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Motorized cow brushes seem to be in the same genre; albeit a bit simple to qualify for “robot”.

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download

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com-optimize%20(7)

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The Disney scientists are working on making that guy a reality:

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I’m genuinely torn. Is getting a hug from a robot any less masturbatory than fucking a robot, or a doll? And should it matter one way or the other? I’m slightly less squicked by the Fuck doll scenario, but then, I’ve never interacted with either kind of mechanism, so I mustn’t judge.

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