Fiji Sun

Some of the coolest robots in the world right now

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DOUBLE

Teleportat­ion is something we’d all love to experience – you could be in your living room one minute, and in an mportant meeting the next. It’s far from likely, though. But Double is the next best thing. It’s essentiall­y a stick with motorised wheels and a screen attached to it, letting you move around spaces and attend events from the comfort of your own home. Of course, it’s a great way to be lazy, but it’s also a sound product if you can’t be somewhere for a legitimate reason. It’s not cheap, however, costing more than USD$2,000.

MOLEY

We’re not all amazing chefs, but it’s still nice to eat scrumptiou­s home-cooked food. Don’t worry, robots could soon fill this void. Moley Robotics is the maker of the world’s first kitchen robot – set to launch in 2017. The system is a standard kitchen which includes robotic arms and humanoid hands that can stir and garnish food, replacing the cook. However, you have to physically cook a meal first so the robot can master how it’s done. It’s expected to cost around £50,000 (FJD$ 131745 ) when it officially launches.

HONDA ASIMO

It would be impossible to create a list about the best robotic and humanoid tech without mentioning Honda’s Asimo, which is the world’s most powerful humanoid ever created. Four feet high and weighing 54kg, the latest model of Asimo is powered by a 51.8v lithium ion and lasts for up to an hour. You can get it to undertake tasks just by giving it simple commands, plus it can speak in Japanese, Chinese, and English. Honda wants Asimo to be helping tourists in Japan by 2020.

PEPPER

Pepper may have been announced in 2014, but that’s not to say it’s outdated.

It’s still an awesome piece of kit.

What can it do, then? Well, it’s claimed to be the first ever robot that can recognise and respond to human emotion.

In its head, there are two HD cameras, four microphone­s and a 3D sensor, which all monitor facial expression­s and speech patterns.

You’ll also find a gyroscope in the torso.

Its creator, Aldebaran Robotics, says Pepper is aimed at making humans happy.

It currently costs 198,000 Japanese yen (just over £1000 or FJD$2634.90).

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