Groundbreaking Robot 'Zeno' Debuts at Wired NextFest

Business Wire, Sept 13, 2007

Robot Developed by Hanson Robotics Speaks, Learns and Interacts with People and Environment

First Robot to Be Driven by Academy Award[R]-Winning Massive Artificial Intelligence Software

LOS ANGELES -- Today at Wired NextFest Hanson Robotics is introducing "Zeno," a robot that uses breakthrough artificial intelligence (AI) software to reason and get smarter over time. Hanson Robotics partnered with Massive Software, the developer of AI simulation software used in films such as the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Happy Feet, Ratatouille, and more, to design a robot that is able to view a 3D mental image of his environment to determine and control physical action and reactions.

The vision and decision-making capabilities in Massive software give Zeno the ability to navigate, make facial expressions and move his body based on what he sees in his physical environment. Hanson has also created a character engine with speech recognition and conversational AI for language reasoning so that Zeno can recognize and remember both speech and faces and interact accordingly. The robot is highly articulated with over 28 built-in servos (specialized motors) in its legs, torso, arms and face. He is an intelligent character robot that can show emotions with his very flexible expressive face and perform stunts with his agile and self-balancing body. He can lie down, get up to standing, gesture with his arms, smile, make eye contact, open and close his eyes, mouth and much more. Zeno is driven wirelessly by a standard home PC.

Zeno, the namesake and likeness of inventor David Hanson's son, is being shown as a prototype, with the aim of producing this robot as a mass-market consumer product. "We are thrilled to show Zeno publicly for the first time at Wired NextFest. The technology incorporated in Zeno has a huge potential for the consumer home entertainment market," said David Hanson, Founder of Hanson Robotics. "Zeno's pre-defined movements and actions have unlimited permutations and he will get smarter and more aware over time. The goal is to bring it to market as a children's toy, able to tutor, express and teach a variety of different subjects."

Massive Software is best known for its wide use in the film industry to incorporate AI-driven digital characters into feature film sequences. "In just three-and-a-half months, Hanson Robotics developed a way for Zeno to interface with Massive, which is incredibly exciting for us," said Diane Holland, CEO, Massive Software. "With very little modifications to our software, they are controlling the physical actions and reactions of a robot in the real world, which has very exciting implications for Massive in a variety of markets outside of the animation industry."

The robot is 17" tall, weighs 6 lbs and runs on lithium polymer batteries. The body walks and balances gracefully and the face is extremely expressive. The robot can keep track of where people's faces are and will turn around to make eye contact, and will learn the names and faces of the people that interact with it. The robot body was designed by Japan's leading robot designer Tomotaka Takahashi, and is reminiscent of the beloved Japanese television character, Astro Boy.

About Hanson Robotics

Dallas, TX-based Hanson Robotics develops the most expressive and intelligent conversational character robots today. The company's Philip K. Dick, Albert Einstein and other robots have been featured in Wired Magazine, Popular Science, The New York Times, the Boston Globe and a variety of TV programs. The company was founded by Dr. David Hanson, a groundbreaking developer in the robotics field, and is comprised of roboticists, AI experts, scientists, engineers and cognitive specialists. For more information, visit www.hansonrobotics.com and www.zenosworld.com.

About Massive Software

Massive Software is the leading creator of artificial intelligence-based 3D animation systems. Massive was founded when Stephen Regelous programmed a unique piece of software for director Peter Jackson to make creation of complicated visual effects scenes involving hundreds of thousands of digital characters a practical reality. Regelous garnered a Scientific and Engineering Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2004. For more information, please contact Massive North America ( 1 310-837-7878), New Zealand ( 64 9-3030-030), or visit www.massivesoftware.com.