First Robot Park Opens in Puchon

[영어도우미]

First Robot Park Opens in Puchon
	http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/200601/kt2006010417104910220.htm By Cho Jin-seo Staff Reporter A visitor watches MR. Face, a robot which can react to specific human voices by making various facial expressions, at Robo Park in Puchon, Kyonggi Province.   /Yonhap Puchon, Kyonggi Province _ There is nothing that really captures one뭩 imagination as one arrives at the entrance to an office building located in the middle of an industrial park here, but that is Korea뭩 first robot museum. Usually, groups of pre-school children arrive with their mothers in tow. And if the children think this is just another field trip, they are likely to be mistaken. Inside, one discovers a modest dreamland full of various kinds of eccentric robots buzzing around and chit-chatting in their own mechanical languages, that may prove to be a breeding ground for future Asimovs or robot scientists. After six months of preparation, Robo Park opened last week as Korea뭩 first and only year-round robot museum in Puchon (Bucheon), a town sandwiched between Seoul and Inchon. The park has some 30 kinds of household and industrial robots on display, and most of them are purchased from 17 companies located in the very same building as the museum. ``First, we built it as a showroom for robot manufacturers in the industrial complex,뮃 said Byun Jong-hwan, director of Robo Park. ``But while we were working with the plan, we came to think that it would be able to serve the regional community as well, providing a good educational opportunity for young children.뮃 The exhibition begins with a big sign of the famous ``three laws of robotics뮃 by Russian-American pioneer Isaac Asimov, which starts with ``A robot may not injure a human being.뮃 Then a guide robot named X-1 displays museum information on a TV screen on its belly, and robot-pet dog Genibo barks at visitors while playing simple tricks. Director Byun says that one visitors?favorite is a six-member troupe of Robonova, which give a 3-minute dancing performance on a classical number using their 14 human-like joints. Another popular figure is Mr. Face, which can make 10 facial expressions using its mechanical muscles. The museum also has Robhaz, a robot used by Korean troops in Iraq. On the opening day, there was even a mixed-martial art event of robots called Robo-1, named after the famous K-1 martial arts fights between humans. The park was funded by the city and central government 50-50, and it is a part of South Korea뭩 plan to foster the smart robot industry. Aiming to make robot technology a key growth engine in the country, the Ministry of Science and Technology last month said that it aims to make it a 100-trillion-won industry by 2020. Also, the Ministry of Information and Communication announced a plan to prompt local firms to commercially launch household robots, such as robot vacuum cleaners and guard robots with an affordable price range of between 1 million and 2 million won this year. Though the displayed robots at Robo Park are impressive, there is still something lacking greatly in terms of size, when comparing with other major science and technology museums such as in Washington, London and Munich. For example, the park failed to bring in Albert Hubo, a robot with Einstein뭩 face, which is probably South Korea뭩 most famous humanoid robot. Instead it has a mock-up in a showcase, as the original costs about 500 million won to build one which is about a quarter of the total budget of Robo Park. Director Byun estimates that the park had 1,300 visitors per day during the first weekend and another 300 guests on Monday and Tuesday each. ``As you see, this is just the beginning and it will be continually improved,뮃 Byun said, showing two empty rooms at one side of the exhibition hall. ``But the children are already enjoying it quite much, and we are happy to make them so.뮃 Byun added that he will promote the museum at an International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week. indizio@koreatimes.co.kr 01-04-2006 17:13

- Do you think robots can become a great industry in South Korea?

- Are you interested in robots? Why or why not?

- Do you think that robots can one day become as real as humans? (Just like in the movies "A.I." and "I, Robot")

- Are you interested in visiting Robo Park in Bucheon?  Have you seen any of the featured robots in Robo Park?

- What kind of robot would you like to own? 

- Will robots become more helpful or more burdensome in the future?