AssetID: 55139639
Headline: Thriller-bytes! Scientists Create Robot That Can Perform Michael Jackson's 'Moonwalk'
Caption: Thriller-bytes! Scientists create robot that can perform Michael Jackson's ‘moonwalk’. A South Korean research team has unveiled a humanoid robot capable of replicating Michael Jackson’s famous moonwalk dance. The dancing skills of the robot not only make it a nifty mover, but also have implications for future android-like designs. That’s because it can also reach speeds of 12km/h and maintain its balance on uneven ground – even with its “eyes” closed. In addition to the moonwalk it can also replicate another famous dance - rock and roll’s duckwalk. It was developed by Professor Park Hae-won and his team at KAIST university in Daejon. The team says the machine has been designed for real-world use in industrial settings, where versatile robots could support or replace human workers. Researchers at KAIST designed and manufactured all of the robot’s key components – securing what they describe as technological independence in hardware. They also trained an artificial intelligence controller using a self-developed reinforcement learning algorithm in a virtual environment, before successfully applying it in the real world. The KAIST team is collaborating with colleagues at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to develop the robot’s upper body with the aim of creating a complete humanoid able to carry out tasks such as carrying heavy objects, operating valves and cranks, opening doors and pushing carts while walking. The team will present their work at Humanoids 2025, an international robotics conference, on 1 October 2025.
Keywords: Science & Technology,scientists,robot,Michael Jackson,moonwalk,research,team,humanoid,dance,skills,android-like,designs,balance,duckwalk,rock and roll’s,Professor Park Hae-won,KAIST,Daejon,technological,hardware,artificial intelligence,Humanoids 2025,robotics
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