In a bizarre posting in FedBizOps today, NASA's Dryden Flight Research Centre appears to put women (robots) in a place they escaped from when they earned the right to vote.
The agency wants to buy two interactive "robot characters" that will be used "with varied target audiences".
One will be a male figure, a "wise-looking robot suitable for all audiences"; the other a female "of somewhat ethnic background may add additional comfort to a more diverse audience or when wanting a female to speak at an all female event."
And because the male "will be used more often", he gets to have moving arms!
Other features of both robots make we wonder what the heck NASA is doing these days..
- Both robots will offer voice modifiers to raise or lower their pitch, remote controls, batteries, chargers, voice hearing transceivers, MP3 player, instruction booklet, and warranty.
- Additional clothing is needed that can be worn by either robot includes a flight suit, lab coat, and astronaut suit and also where robots can be suited in any children's clothing to adapt to seasonal changes or target audiences.
- An F-18 model aircraft adds another component draw to the robots that can be used by either robot. Each robot can use the aircraft, be carried, or placed atop of a seating place.
- Technology purchased with the robots allow for pre-scripted audio program where the robot can speak at specific timeframes with a specific message such as a greeting to a museum or event, "live" conversation utilizing a built-in 2-way sound system, or where the robot is in one room and the operator is in another room.
And it's not just Dryden getting involved with the robotic revelry. It appears that the Kennedy Space Centre is looking for a few good robots as well..
From yesterday's FedBizOps: "NASA/KSC has a requirement for a 5'9" Life-Like Robot, brand-name Engineered Arts Limited, RoboThespian, or equal"
This dude's pretty cool though. Not sure if he's a chauvanist, like the Dryden dud.
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