First Conversation is Space Between Human and Robot

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Wakata: How did you get out here into space, Kirobo?

Kirobo: On the Kounotori [transfer vehicle] from Tanegashima Space Center.

For the first time in history a human astronaut held a conversation with a man-made robot in orbit. The astronaut was Japanese national Koichi Wakata, and the tiny robot was Kirobo. This conversation took place on board the International Space Station on December 6, after Kirobo successfully reached the station and met his human partner.

The conversation, the first of its kind between a human and a robot in outer space, represents the latest development in the Kibo Robot Project, a joint research project carried out by Dentsu, RCAST, Robo Garage and TMC. JAXA is also providing extensive assistance. The key aims of the project are to facilitate the coexistence of humans and robots, and to explore possible future deployment of communication robots in outer space.

IHLS – Israel Homeland Security

Extract from the conversation (translated from Japanese):

Wakata: How did you get out here into space, Kirobo?

Kirobo: On the Kounotori [transfer vehicle] from Tanegashima Space Center.

Wakata: Right. So you came here on the Kounotori?

Kirobo: Not the bird, of course! A rocket.

Wakata: It’s incredible that you came here all by yourself.

Kirobo: Well, I’m a robot!

Kirobo’s basic specifications:

• Height: 34 cm
• Width: 18 cm
• Weight: 1 kg (approx.)
• Language: Japanese
• Main features: Voice recognition, natural language processing, voice synthesis, telecommunications functions, gestures, facial recognition camera, recording camera

Kirobo is scheduled to return to Earth in December 2014.