Can robots give birth to babies? The Japanese have such wild imaginations

What do you think of first when you think of robots? The future world in science fiction movies or the sweeping robots that "run around" at home? For us, the future world is too far away, and cleaning robots do not have human form. It is hard to imagine a robot that really becomes a "human" and participates in our lives.

But the magical country of Japan is different. They are keen on research and development that transcends ethics and technology, and have launched many "weird" robots, including Buddhist robots in temples and robot babies that accompany the elderly.

What we are going to talk about today is even more amazing. It is a female robot. Her identity is "wife". In addition to completing some daily work, she can also "give birth to children!

1. Can robots even give birth to babies?

Robots are generally believed to exist to replace humans in completing certain tasks. They may be "workers" on a production line, or they may be "waiters" who serve us tea and water in our daily lives. However, as humans' requirements for robot services increase, robots are possessing more and more capabilities.

Humans are social animals and need to communicate with others, but some people do not like socializing. In order to meet these needs, the category of companion robots was born.

We have reported on companion robots before (Chinese documentary visits robot companion factory! Will people marry robots in 2050?). At that time, the robots mentioned were only those with companionship and communication functions. Although they are very close to humans, they still have many natural limitations.

Now, Japan has launched a female robot that breaks the conventional design and even equips the robot with a uterus so that it can simulate a woman giving birth.

This female robot is equipped with large and small parts and various sensors inside its body to simulate the entire process of human childbirth.

This Japanese female robot is mainly developed for male users. Its skin is extremely similar to that of a real person. It uses the most advanced silicone technology and is equipped with a constant temperature system, so it has the same body temperature as a normal person.

The robot with wife "function" looks like a standard beauty with fair skin and a curvy figure. In terms of practicality, it also has the functions of doing simple housework and communicating.

However, the most curious thing is the "child-bearing" function. After all, infertility is still a medical problem for humans, and not everyone has the opportunity to have children. Isn't this something that is even more difficult for robots to do?

In fact, although this kind of "wife" robot already has a "uterus" that can bear children, the robot cannot actually become pregnant. At present, it can only imitate the human birth process. Perhaps one day when biological science and technology and artificial intelligence technology develop to a certain stage, we will be able to really see robot babies.

2. What’s the use of letting robots “give birth”?

Japanese female robots do have the "ability" to give birth to children, but the "reproductive function" of female robots only imitates the entire process of human childbirth. They are not able to actually give birth to children. What is born is just a model of a child placed in the body in advance.

So what is the point of this feature?

For some men who choose to live with robots, perhaps one day robots can give birth to children, which means their family can be complete. But at present, the most practical function of this kind of robot is in science popularization and technology research.

The population ratio of Japan is similar to that of China, with more men than women. In addition, influenced by traditional Japanese culture, women mostly stay at home to take care of their husbands and children, and their main tasks are housework and childcare. Female robots are more acceptable to Japanese men, as they can meet their requirements for a partner and avoid some problems they don't want to face.

On the other hand, these robots do not simply assume the role of a wife, but can also serve as dual assistants for work and life, able to do housework as well as handle detailed tasks such as looking up information and making phone calls, and their personalities and voices can also be customized as needed.

In addition to meeting the needs of users who purchase robots, this robot can also be used as a teaching aid in science and technology museums, medical schools and classrooms to popularize female reproduction, the composition of human organs and the development of science and technology.

Letting robots give birth to children seems to be a function that is more talked about than practical at the moment, but technology is developing at a rapid pace, and people's needs will also change accordingly, just like ten years ago we did not expect that one day we would be able to video chat with friends in a foreign country.

3. Those weird Japanese robots

There's something about the things the Japanese do that makes you feel both warm and a little weird.

Japanese universities ushered in graduation season in March. Due to the impact of the new crown epidemic, the graduation ceremony could not be held normally. A few days ago, Japan's BBT University used robots to replace students and held a virtual graduation ceremony.

This is a situation adopted under special circumstances to bring a perfect end to the students' studies. The students opened the video and "grafted" their avatars onto a robot body. The robot in a bachelor's gown received the graduation certificate from the principal, but the warm scene still revealed a hint of weirdness.

Japan is a country that believes in Buddhism, with more than 80% of its people being Buddhists. Kodaiji Temple, a 400-year-old temple in Japan, has also worked with Osaka University to develop an "AI True Buddha" called Mindar.

Mindar started working as a Zen master at Kodai-ji Temple in 2019. He is about the same size as an adult male, with his hands clasped together. He can sit cross-legged or stand. When promoting Buddhism, he chants gently and soothingly in a melodious voice.

Japan's basketball level can only be described as average, but this has not prevented them from continuing to use their imagination in basketball. The basketball robot CUE is a robot developed by Japan specifically for shooting. Although it has a high hit rate, it can only complete the shooting action and has no other role on the court.

Conclusion: Weird robots also have great uses

Whether it is a female companion robot or a student robot that collects graduation certificates on behalf of others, they all reflect the uniqueness of the Japanese in their observation of life and reflection of details.

Japan's robotics technology is at the forefront of the world, and their imagination is also very creative. In fact, there are implications behind every invention that are worth pondering. The Dharma Robot was created in the hope that young people can better understand the beliefs of their country and have more connections and resonance with young people.

In today's era, everything is changing rapidly, and the development of science and technology is far beyond our imagination. Maybe one day robots will really be able to give birth to children.