telenoid r1 robotThe creepy designs of some robots is often noted and satirized upon, but sometimes the creators know full well what type of “creature” they are building. Japan’s ATR and Osaka University have collaborated to create the Telenoid R1, a ghost-like robot that takes on the presence of another user from another location communicating through it.

Telepresence robots are not something new, but often they rely on a computer screen or something of the sort where you can see the other person. The Telenoid R1, however, is basically a large, skin-color torso with rounded stubs for arms and legs, and a featureless face that seems to be staring at you with eyes from the beyond. Many have compared it to Casper the ghost, but that gaze is far from anything resembling friendly or happy.

Professor Hiroshi Ishiguro, who worked on the robot, has revealed that despite the design, Telenoid R1 is not actually intended to spook its owners. The shape of the body and the featureless face allows the user trying to communicate through it to beam in his own voice and gestures through the robot, almost as if taking control of its body. This allows men and women, young and old to be able to use it, and the person talking with the Telenoid R1 will “eventually” warm-up to the idea that this machine is a manifestation of their friend (of sorts).

Looking at it from this angle, it is a pretty neat idea. I’m not sure to what extent people will be able to overlook the bald head or stubbed limbs and imagine their girlfriend or something, but who knows. The old guy in the video sure seems to be having a blast. Perhaps the scariest thing about this 10-pound silicon bot is the price – starting out at $35,000.