36 Freaky Robots With Human Jobs (SUPER GALLERY)

Trend Hunter’s robot section features several hundred robots, but none are more freaky than these 36, which each have human jobs.  Having said that, I did cheat a little on this list, adding some unemployed robots that are simply human-like and freaky.  Enjoy!

Robots Receptionists

Robot Secretaries - Phorone (VIDEO)

Kokoro Dreams’ life-sized android secretary’s name is Phorone. She stands 175 cm and she has already starred in an anime where she was the protagonist. The big hope is that someday, she, and robots like her, will be able to replace real human secretaries. “She is apparently powered by pressurized a… [More]

Receptionist Robots (FOLLOW UP) - Wakamaru (VIDEO)

Are receptionist robots the next big thing?  This is the fourth receptionist robot Trend Hunter has discovered.  Read the others HERE, HERE and HERE. People Staff, a temporary staffing agency based in Nagoya, Japan, has just hired 10 robots that they will put to work in the Tokai area. Wakamarus we… [More]

SAYA - Another Robot Receptionist (VIDEO)

The Tokyo University of Science has another breakthrough on the development of robot interactions with human.  SAYA receptionist robot, featured at a recent robotics forum in Tokyo, is capable of spouting 300 words/700 phrases from her speaker-bra and capable of contorting her face into a number of … [More]

Ubiko - Receptionist Robot for Hire

The Tokyo-based Ubiquitous Exchange developed a robot called “Ubiko” that can answers questions, welcome visitors and carry objects. You can actually rent this robot for $445, they already tests these robots at a hospital in central Japan. The manager stated “If we look at these robots as advertis… [More]

Robotic Receptionist at the Japan Airport

This Robotic receptionist is programed to respond to over 200 questions and is presently “employed” at the Kita-Kyushu (Japan) airport. She is a rendering of a popular Japanese cartoon character. We could have Bart, Kenny or Boomhauer. The possibilities are endless.. [More]

SORA the Secretary: a Robot For Your Office

SORA the receptionist robot allows you to finally remove another element of human contact at your faceless company. With security cameras, a microphone, speakers, voice recognition, and a business card scanner it can do a lot of things your human receptionist can’t. [More]

Robots With Important Jobs

Robot Helps Lost People - Robovie

If you ever find yourself lost in a shopping mall in Osaka, Japan, just look for a lurking robot with lemur-like eyes.  The Robovie is a crowd-monitoring robot capable not only of watching 20 people at once but analysing their behavior thanks to the 16 cameras stationed inside him. His two big eyes… [More]

Robotic Babysitters - In-Store Robo-Nanny Lets You Shop in Peace

This is not the first inhuman babysitter, but the new robot recently “employed” at the famous Fukuoka Japanese department store is the perfect godsend for shopaholic parents with kids. The 1.4-meter tall robot with a colorful yellow / white outfit was developed by Tmsuk and features an integrated p… [More]

Giggling Robots Could Cure Cancer - Robots Laugh At Your Jokes (VIDEO)

Do people just not get your sense of humour? Do you come up with the cleverest, most witty lines in your head, only to have them shot down by others when you present them? Then you need to get your hands on this robot! It’s been programmed to recognize puns and will chuckle in response to your plays… [More]

Real-Life C-3PO - Android Unleashed

Japan’s National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) is going to unleash the next generation of humanoid robot, aka android, on October 29. The robot can observe and store its surroundings in 3D thus, enabling it to remember… forever. This includes people. The bot can e… [More]

BEAR Robot Can Pick Up and Rescue Soldiers

The US army is developing a robot that can rescue wounded soldiers on a battlefield. The remote-controlled robot is called Battlefield Extraction-Assist Robot (Bear). Its capability will be travel over bumpy terrain while carrying a wounded soldier in its arms.  The prototype can lift more than 135k… [More]

Tissue-Dispensing Robot from Japan - Mospeng-Kun (VIDEO)

Planning a party in the future? Maybe this robot can pamper your guests. Pink Tentacle describes, “Mospeng-kun is a tissue-dispensing robot created by InterRobot Inc., a robot development and rental company based in western Japan.  When the friendly Mospeng-kun detects a person nearby, it utters a h… [More]

Blogging Robot - PaPeRo (VIDEO)

The NEC Corporation has announced the development of a new multimedia blog creation system robot “PaPeRo” which can connect to the Internet and maintain a blog about its daily experiences.  “The system is initialized when a user begins a conversation with PaPeRo about the events of their day, which… [More]

Medical Robots

Pregnant Robot Gives Birth - Training Device for Med Students (VIDEO)

The $20,000 Pregnant Robot is actually a breakthrough training training device for medical students.  The robot actually gives birth to a baby and simulates vital signs.  The baby even changes colors from pink to blue to simulate an oxygen deficiency.  A number of different complications are program… [More]

Robonurse - Ready to Serve Hospitals by 2010

The IWARD project plans to develop a “nursebot” that carries some hats, and can manage cleaning up drips, operating face and voice recognition technology to “communicate with patients and spot unauthorized visitors,” and even effective in “swarms” to allocate responsibilities between the robotic squ… [More]

Robotic Dental Patient - Japanese Simroid Responds to Pain (VIDEO)Simroid, a robotic dental patient, was unveiled at the 2007 International Robot Exhibition in Tokyo, Japan.  The faux patient has a realistic human appearance, Simroid actually looks like an attractive young woman with long black hair. The robot also can listen and follow instructions. Developed … [More]

Robots that Pee - METI Human Patient Simulator

Robots just keep getting more life-like. They’re so realistic, the latest, called the METI Human Patient Simulator, can even go pee!  These dolls, used for medical training in combat zones, also blink and breathe. They’re meant to help doctors and nurses at the Navy Trauma Training Center train fo… [More]

Robots With Crappy Jobs

Kitchen Robot Does The Dishes!

Professors at the Tokyo University have successfully created a robot with real life, in-home practicality. Although unlikely to be affordable to the average home owner anytime in the near future, this prototype is capable of carrying out menial tasks that any housewife would be thrilled to pass over… [More]

Robotic Janitor - Wax On, Wax Off With Tondon (VIDEO)

This bright yellow cube-on-wheels was built by Subaru (Fuji Heavy Industries) and Sumitomo. Given the name Tondon after the Balinese snake god, this robot cleans the floors of a 14-story apartment complex in Tokyo, Japan… unsupervised! It can even use the building’s elevators. Roomba’s big brother… [More]

Gas Pumping Robots to Fuel Cars - Dutch “Tankpitstop” Robot

Imagine the possibility of robots with gas - for your car. Dutch inventors revealed the Tankpitstop Robot that is capable of fueling cars.  The ingenious invention figures out the type of car you are driving and then matches it to a database of fuel designs. After assessing the vehicle, an arm with… [More]

Robot Cleans Public Restrooms - Japanese Lady Bird Tackles Toilets

The Japanese are making some darn cute robots to do some heavy duty cleaning. These bots are made to clean the public rest area toilets. Inside is everything needed to do even the nastiest of clean ups. Being Japanese in design, they’re exceptional at multi-tasking too; they will listen to your conv… [More]

Robots that Touch You

Robot Masseur - WAO-1 Massage Machine

Japanese scientists have just invented a contraption to give facial therapeutic massages across the country’s spas and hospitals. The WAO-1 robot (Waseda Asahi Oral Rehabilitation Robot 1) is designed to give fine massages, including facial ones for those with jaw-related illnesses. The robot was de… [More]

Partner Ballroom Dancing Robot (VIDEO)

We published this article in Devember 2005, but the video of a dude dancing with a robot is worth the update. A little disappointed that you don’t have a date for the prom?  Show everyone how cool you are by bringing your dancing robot.  Yes, it is from Japan.  After just 6 years, a team of lonely … [More]

Fake Intimacy 2 - Virtual Love Partner Combines Physical Robot, Virtual Reality (VIDEO)

I just love all the technology speak related to this item, but let’s be realistic, what we are looking at here is the next big thing in virtual love partners. In short, this robot can perform physical manouvers, but the robot’s owner sees a virtual person using special goggles. With the right softw… [More]

Real Life Sex Doll Robots

Say goodbye to late night trips to the local strip club or late evenings surfing the web.  The time has come for those looking to put a little more reality into their sex life. [More]

Rent a Robot - Actroid DER2 Fembot $3,500 for 5 Days (VIDEO)

Don’t ask me what you’re supposed to do with her… but the Actroid DER2 Fembot is a realistic android that you can rent at a price of $3,500 for 5 Days.  Born Rich tells us, “The feminine robot features lifelike silicon skin and can deliver natural expressions. Its limbs, torso and facial expressi… [More]

Robots That Serve Beer

Robot Bartenders Part VI - Chassis, The Drink Pouring Robot

If you’re a beer drinker and you’re lazy, then Chassis is the answer to your prayers. Chassis is a beverage-pouring, remote-controlled robot that delivers beer or any other drink for that matter. The Chassis is outfitted with a keg system for your favorite drink and the robot’s color is a bright s… [More]

Robotic Bartenders - Robomoji, Asahi and RoboBar (VIDEO)

Robomoji is the latest robot bartender that is making waves in the net by making drinks.  In January, we saw the Asahi robot bartender, which pours Japan’s favourite drink.  Then in July, we covered the RoboBar a polished Robot Bar available for purchase.  Now, there’s Robomoji. [More]

Robot With A ‘Nose’ For Good Wine

The ability to discern good wine from bad, name the specific brand from a tiny sip and recommend a complementary cheese would seem to be about as human a skill as there is. In Japan, robots are doing it. Researchers at NEC System Technologies and Mie University have designed a robot that can taste… [More]

Robot Bartenders Get Digital - MyFountain Smartini Cocktail Mixer (VIDEO)

We’ve seen a handful of Robot Bartenders at Trend Hunter, but this is the first that does not look too gimicky.  It even has a digital display. If you tend to forget the great lounge drinks you’ve sampled over the years, fret no more. Your computer is going to make cocktail mixing just a smidge eas… [More]

BONUS: Robots Without Jobs that Are Freaky

CB2 Robot Baby - Japanese Researchers Develop Creepiest Bot Ever (VIDEO)

Researchers at The Japan Science and Technology Agency have created a baby robot with the intelligence of a 1-2 year old baby.  The baby is called Child-Robot with Biometric Body, CB2 for short. 
The robot can sense sight, hearing and touch through 200 tactile sensors.  The goal of the project is t… [More]

Robotic Expression - Kansei’s Face Makes 36 Expressions (VIDEO)

Because robots aren’t freaky enough, Japanese researchers have created a robot that can make 36 different human expressions.  The robot, named Kansei, makes a frightened face when he sees the word ‘bomb’ and he a happy face when he sees the word ‘sushi’.  Kansei was developed at Meiji University’s… [More]

Emotional Robots - MIT’s Nexi (VIDEO)

Nexi is a next generation humanoid robot conceived and designed by roboticist Cynthia Breazeal’s group at the MIT Media Lab. They call this so-called “emotional robot” an MDS (Mobile/Dexterous/Social). The robot can move its tiny body, hands, and face suggestive of human emotions. Gizmowatch says … [More]

Repliee Q1 World’s Most Realistic Robot (VIDEO)

Repliee Q1 (at left in both pictures) appeared on June 9 at the 2005 World Expo in Japan, where she gestured, blinked, spoke, and even appeared to breathe. Shown with co-creator Hiroshi Ishiguru of Osaka University, the android is partially covered in skinlike silicone. Q1 is powered by a nearby air… [More]

Robot Clones - When iRobot Meets the Wax Museum (VIDEO)

I was really amazed by this guy. He is a very talented sculptor who has made basically a clone model of himself and fitted it with robotics. I can see this as being the next big “toy” for millionaire’s. The creator, Zou Ren Ti, features the design on his website (xsm.cn), but he does not have any vi… [More]

Lifelike Robots

Are these lifelike robots cool or creepy?  Is there an issue of these robots of being too real?  Can this pose some sort of threat to society? [More]