Japanese Robot Astronaut Headed for International Space Station

Kirobo, a talking Japanese robot, is headed for the International Space Station (ISS). Space.com reports that the small 34 centimeter tall (13.4 inches) robot is aboard the HTV-4 (Kounotori 4) robotic cargo ship, which arrives at the ISS August 9th. Kirobo is programmed to recognize Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata. The Guardian reports that Kirobo will be dutifully waiting for Wakata when he arrives in November.

Tomotaka Takahashi, the developer of Kirobo, says, "Kirobo will remember Mr Wakata's face so it can recognise him when they reunite up in space. I wish for this robot to function as a mediator between a person and machine, or a person and the internet, and sometimes even between people."

Kirobo explains his mission to Fuminori Kataoka, project general manager at co-developers Toyota, in this clip.

Photo: Toyota

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