Modulus robot: Difference between revisions

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{{Primary sources|date=February 2009}}

The [[Domestic robot|household robot]] '''Modulus''', described by the manufacturer as "the friend of homo''Homo sapiens''", was made by Sirius, a company Massimo Giuliana set up in 1982 for marketing home and [[personal computer]]s, and which decided to start building its own domestic robot back in 1984. When the first "Modulus" prototype had been realized, the company asked Isao Hosoe, a Japanese designer who has been living and working in [[Milan]] for many years, to study its "body-work". Hosoe's work, however, went well beyond this, and was followed by a complete technological reprocessing of the robot. Data Process was responsible for the design and manufacture of the electronic and mechanical parts, while Sirius used the expertise of an American company, the RB Robot Corporation, for the software (its founder, Joseph H. Bosworth, is known by some as "the father of personal robotics").

==Development==

Two million dollars were invested in developing this particular piece of equipment. Research carried out in the United States showed that there would be greater development in this sector. It was also estimated that the use of "Modulus" could provide an opportunity to bring back into operation many PCs that were bought during the boom, but which are not used seldom, if ever. A good slice of the "Modulus" market could consist of the owners of these personal computers, newly aware of the possibility of connecting them to a personal robot.

"Modulus" was designed as a robot with possible domestic applications, but in reality it is open to any future development. Modularity - hence its name - is one of its principal characteristics, and it has been designed for adaptation to the widest possible range of applications. Comparing the robot with man, "Modulus" can be said to have an electronic "[[circulatory system]]" that permits the various extremities (arms, head, etc.) to communicate with the brain (CPU in a computer). The "Modulus" robots could have abilities such as a [[phoneme]]s synthesizer, [[Speaker recognition|voice recognition]], [[Infrared|infra-redinfrared]] communication, etc., making it suitable for performing many functions ranging from helping to teach children to assisting the handicapped or invalids.

When studying the eventual appearance of "Modulus", Isao Hosoe began by looking at the robots of the past. These included "Electro", built by Westinghouse in 1939. Hosoe hit on the right appearance by studying human expressions and gestures, bearing in mind that a domestic robot needs to be appealing on account of its proximity to man. Its eyelids have to open, its pupils dilate or contract. It must be able to nod or shake its head, bend its torso, and raise, lower and rotate its arms. "Modulus", however, has no feet. Available in three configurations - "Base", "Service & Security" and "Moddy" - "Modulus" stands on a Base unit 35 cm in diameter and 15 cm high, two two-speed motors connected to rubber wheels, and two spherical stabilizers. It comes with a small infra-redinfrared Instrument for connecting it to another [[remote control]] device or for interacting with the major home and personal computers.

== Base ==

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== External links ==

*[http://www.modulusrobots.com Modulus Robots website]

*[http://www.isaohosoedesign.com Isao Hosoe Design] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070521214514/http://www.isaohosoedesign.com/ |date=2007-05-21 }}

*[http://www.isaohosoedesign.com/isao/project_dett.jsp?lang=2&proj=7&level2=7 Isao Hosoe Design - Modulus] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130208092029/http://www.isaohosoedesign.com/isao/project_dett.jsp?lang=2&proj=7&level2=7 |date=2013-02-08 }}

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20131207035539/http://www.jehudahdesign.com/my-robots/modulus-base.html Jehudah Design - The "Base" Modulus]

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20150215065412/http://www.jehudahdesign.com/my-robots/modulus-service-&%26-security.html Jehudah Design - The "Service & Security" Modulus]

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20150215124925/http://www.jehudahdesign.com/my-robots/modulus-service-&%26-security-arm-expansion.html Jehudah Design - The "Service & Security" Modulus with arm expansion]

*[http://www.jehudahdesign.com/my-robots/modulus-moddy.html Jehudah Design - The "Moddy" Modulus] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203162828/http://www.jehudahdesign.com/my-robots/modulus-moddy.html |date=2013-12-03 }}

*[http://www.theoldrobots.com/modulus.html The Old Robots Website - Pictures and information]

*[http://www.megadroid.com/Robots/mody.htm MegaDroid - Pictures and information]