Recently, a very human-like robot appeared on Russian screens, drawing the eye of many sci-fi fans and people who have little interest in all things robotic. TV channel “Russia 24” ran a segment on a robotics forum “Proyektoria technology forum” and focused on one particular subject – a human-sized robot. Video footage shows the machine named “Boris” performing various tasks, from simple movements to advanced maneuvers, like replicating people around his dancing. It also quickly responds to the questions asked by the host, as well as shows advanced cognitive functions and formulation of logical responses.
It became quite an attraction during the forum as well, drawing crowds of people who snapped pictures and took selfies with it. And while it astonished the audience attending the event, people on the internet quickly grew suspicious. Many were wondering how did Russia take such a leap in robotics without any intermediate steps recorded. Others pointed out that robots that we’ve seen so far don’t move as fluidly and gracefully as “Boris” did.
The more suspicious people grew the more evidence they dug up. And while at first you could’ve argued that something like movements could be improved to perfection, there was no room for doubt when someone pointed out that a human neck was peeking out between the robot’s body and the flickering head.
Image credits: VestiYaroslavl
As all hopes for an advanced robot diminished and online ridicule and memes started piling up, people eventually came across an Instagram page of a man who dresses up as a robot for a living and recognized the costume.
Image credits: gusaklab
Turns out, “Boris” from the forum is actually a man dressed in a costume called “Robot Alyosha” made by Show Robots who specialize in creating realistic robot costumes for dedicated fans of all things futuristic.
Image credits: Show Robots
Show Robots’ costumes are made in such a way that a person wearing them, while moving as they normally do, appear to have robot-like movements. Their site details the mechanics by stating that “visually it seems that [their] robot, walks slightly crouched, but in fact, the animator walks straight inside and feels quite comfortable”. That explains why “Boris” was moving the way he did, fluidly, like a person, yet with a robot-like characteristic.
Image credits: gusaklab
The suit costs around $4000, weighs 10kg and has a built-in voice changer, speakers, electric coolers and more. While a pretty costly purchase, it certainly seems cheaper than constructing an actual robot with artificial intelligence, right?
Image credits: Show Robots
After the ridicule and backlash they received online, the represenatives of the forum made a statement declaring that they never specifically said that “Boris” was an actual robot. It is unclear why “Russia 24” portrayed “Boris” as a robot, but it seems like people are not easy to fool.
Here’s what people had to say about the whole situation
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Share on FacebookIt's like that episode of the Simpsons in which Homer built a robot, that was just him in a tin can.
I have mixed emotions on the costume score. I mean, it's obviously very drool worthy. On the other hand, people figured it out because the guy wasn't wearing a balaclava.
Load More Replies...They've been doing this for a while now. I remember how they unveiled some "Predator"-like active camouflage... which then looked about as convincing as a HALO cosplay at Comic-Con. And then there's this sad thing... which clearly is just a model, and even as a model it looks like someone saw Robocop and wanted to rip off ED-209, but din't quite have the budget: https://www.rbth.com/science-and-tech/329003-kalashnikov-creates-war-robot
And then, of course, is the Kalashnikov CV-1 Electric car, designed to give Tesla a run for it's money: https://www.dezeen.com/2018/08/29/kalashnikov-prototype-electric-car-tesla-transport-design/
Load More Replies...I hate this TV channel “Russia 24” ! they spread a fake news about everything, about Ukraine, about people of Ukraine! Hate it and their greedy, evil-president that make war on the territory of my country(( S**t all of this!
and.. how they portray Bulgaria is beyond belief. Poor ugly capital city(it has her poor hoods as any other city in the world)just because we are part of EU and smart enought not to be their second hand people anymore. At the same time Russians come to live in Bulgaria, because they doesn't feel that opressed and poor as they feel in their own country. Not going to mention that Russians didn't invent Cyrilic (slavic alphabet)..
Load More Replies...What's not advanced in this? Tony Stark is that you? Iron BORIS and The Comrades.
The guy to the right in the last photo looks like the guy from her https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6GpbU2v12E
Thet thought: "We could make the Tangerine Turd president of America. So we can fool everyone."
The robot suits are actually pretty cool! As a fursuit nut, I might just also become a robot suit nut too. They're very awesome
Instead of making Actual robots the Russians rather spend their time perfecting fake ones
Go to the Microsoft store, they have a robot that moves alot more fluidly then a man in a suit.
Actually this is a fake news. As you may notice ,this is a show for children. This costume is manufactured by a company that makes such shells and their website was advertised at the show.Because they want to sell their goods. If you go to a shop in late December you vill see a lot og people in a red suit. When talking to children and in the news they are most often called Santa. But guess what. This is not Santa,just people in costumes. It is the same story with the robot. Fake news.
It's like that episode of the Simpsons in which Homer built a robot, that was just him in a tin can.
I have mixed emotions on the costume score. I mean, it's obviously very drool worthy. On the other hand, people figured it out because the guy wasn't wearing a balaclava.
Load More Replies...They've been doing this for a while now. I remember how they unveiled some "Predator"-like active camouflage... which then looked about as convincing as a HALO cosplay at Comic-Con. And then there's this sad thing... which clearly is just a model, and even as a model it looks like someone saw Robocop and wanted to rip off ED-209, but din't quite have the budget: https://www.rbth.com/science-and-tech/329003-kalashnikov-creates-war-robot
And then, of course, is the Kalashnikov CV-1 Electric car, designed to give Tesla a run for it's money: https://www.dezeen.com/2018/08/29/kalashnikov-prototype-electric-car-tesla-transport-design/
Load More Replies...I hate this TV channel “Russia 24” ! they spread a fake news about everything, about Ukraine, about people of Ukraine! Hate it and their greedy, evil-president that make war on the territory of my country(( S**t all of this!
and.. how they portray Bulgaria is beyond belief. Poor ugly capital city(it has her poor hoods as any other city in the world)just because we are part of EU and smart enought not to be their second hand people anymore. At the same time Russians come to live in Bulgaria, because they doesn't feel that opressed and poor as they feel in their own country. Not going to mention that Russians didn't invent Cyrilic (slavic alphabet)..
Load More Replies...What's not advanced in this? Tony Stark is that you? Iron BORIS and The Comrades.
The guy to the right in the last photo looks like the guy from her https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6GpbU2v12E
Thet thought: "We could make the Tangerine Turd president of America. So we can fool everyone."
The robot suits are actually pretty cool! As a fursuit nut, I might just also become a robot suit nut too. They're very awesome
Instead of making Actual robots the Russians rather spend their time perfecting fake ones
Go to the Microsoft store, they have a robot that moves alot more fluidly then a man in a suit.
Actually this is a fake news. As you may notice ,this is a show for children. This costume is manufactured by a company that makes such shells and their website was advertised at the show.Because they want to sell their goods. If you go to a shop in late December you vill see a lot og people in a red suit. When talking to children and in the news they are most often called Santa. But guess what. This is not Santa,just people in costumes. It is the same story with the robot. Fake news.
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