Here's a slick off topic bit of tech news to share this morning. It's actually about an android, although it isn't about an Android. The above video shows off the latest advances in robotics, and must be seen to be believed. The movement of the "android dancer" is so realistic, it's downright creepy (especially with that masked face staring at us in the mirror).
The animatronic android is called "the Female Figure," and it was designed by a man named Mark Setrakian. Even if you haven't heard of him, you may have seen some of his work. Setrakian worked for Industrial Light and Magic, and some of his robotic handiwork can be seen in movies like Men In Black, Hellboy and Pacific Rim. Setrakian is also a former "heavyweight champion" at Robot Wars and is the designer of the Robotic Combat League's metallic warriors.
What makes his creations stand out is that they use a six-axis motion base and at least 28 motors, which far exceeds the specs on the typical robotic creations you see in animatronic puppetry. Interestingly, Setrakian credits 3D Printers for helping him build the parts which bring his creations to life. Besides the fact that his "Female Figure" has extremely realistic motions (although quite super-human), she is also programmed to follow users in the room with her eyes and head, which makes her doubly creepy, yet still very cool!
