www.3ders.org

Oct 21, 2015 | By Kira

There are a lot of cultural niches coming out of Japan that seem pretty ‘out there’ by Western standards, with the emergence of massive, super-high-energy, all-girl pop idol groups such as AKB48 (the 48 stands for the number of members in the ‘band’) a prime example. Fans flock to their concerts in the millions, where the main attraction is arguably not the music, but their off-the wall, tireless, and perfectly choreographed dance routines. Now, to bring that kind of energy home, Japanese electronics company DMM has created a customizable, J-Pop inspired robot with 3D printed parts, that can be programmed to dance on command. Called the ‘Premaid AI’, the dancing robot was created to open “new possibilities in the entertainment x robot field,” and is considered to be the world’s first ‘Desktop Idol Robot.’ For your personal entertainment or to liven up a party, the Premaid AI can either free-style on a table, or be programmed with ‘dance data’ to follow choreographed routines.

So far, they have announced that it is available in three different models: the basic model, and two limited-edition designs created by well-known Japanese illustrators Arisaka Ako and Sakuma Yui. DMM is also providing patterns for robot costumes and 3D printable add-ons, such as customizable heads and body parts, to truly make your Premaid AI your own. While the 3D schematics will be made available as free open data, the robts themselves won’t come cheap—the basic model starts at 138,000 yen, roughly $1,150 USD. Then again, for the most entertaining robot we’ve ever seen, that’s not too bad of a price.

Along with the two artists mentioned above, DMM plans to collaborate with a handful of idol groups, perhaps to make robots modeled after real-life J-Pop stars. And though the group idol trend is without a doubt biggest in Japan, it’s become something of a worldwide phenomenon, with regionally-adapted followings in Korea, China, Taiwan, the Phillipines and the US. In the future, DMM plans to make their robots available in foreign countries to suit what is quite likely to be a fervent demand.

Illustrations of the three models currently available

Clothing pattern variations to customize your Premaid robot

 

 

Posted in 3D Printing Application

 

 

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