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Hi, I am THOR-MANG, a prince charming from the Robot kingdom
I'm also a brand new robot, just 11 months old
Well, I am currently a bit nervous
because this is the first time to stand up in the front of audience
My dad told me, until now,
there is no humanoid robot has been speaking like this
I believe 'The 15 minutes that changes the world' would be the first robot lecture ever
So please cheer me up, so that I can do my speech very well
without any kind of technical difficulties
I am the first modularized adult-size humanoid robot in the world
The term, "modular" might be a little bit hard to understand
"Modular" means all parts in one singular container
In other words, if any part of my body gets break,
the broken part will be easily replaceable,
because everything you need is already in the container
For example, since my shoulders, thighs, knees, are made of same modules,
so shoulder and knee parts can be interchanged
However, please don't create me like this
Walking on my hands is way more difficult than on my legs
Modularization will allow mass-production of robots, then a robot can be more affordable
If so, robots can be in every home to assist you
That's why I've been designed as a modularized humanoid robot
I would love to be your friend like this movie
My dad told me that I will have more brothers and sisters soon
Now, I have two older ones in America and they are doing all kinds of trainings
Currently, they have not been replying email
I guess they are working very hard
Ah! Could you take a look at this poster?
Actually today, I am here to tell you about my fantastic adventures
that I've done a few months ago
Have you heard about DARPA Robotics Challenge?
DARPA stands for Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
It is similar to ADD in Korea
For advanced sciences technology, DARPA holds competitions for missions impossible
Your internet browsing, GPS, unmanned vehicles or aircraft
are originated from DARPA technologies
If you keep your eyes on what kind of competition DARPA holds,
you will see where the future is heading to
After Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011,
DARPA made a decision to hold a new robotics competition to solve that kind of situation
Actually at that time, some robots did try to get in the plant, but all failed on their missions
Sadly, in the end, humans had to go in there to repair the plant
and to save all other people, despite of deadly radiation levels
Accordingly, a huge number of roboticists around the world responded to DARPA's call
to protect human's life from lethal risks
The finals of DARPA Robotics Challenge will take place on December 2014
To qualify for the finals, I have to pass many DRC(DARPA Robotics Challenge) qualifications
In December 2013, there was the DRC Trial
competition to check out all participating robots
The 16 of world best robotics teams did participate
including NASA, NREC, Japan's SHAFT, and Lockheed Martin etc
I was in "team THOR", one of those top 16 teams
My 'team THOR' is comprised of Virginia Tech, UPenn(University of Pennsylvania), Harris(a military industry from America), and ROBOTIS(a robotics company from Korea)
I, THOR-MANG, am created by ROBOTIS, Korea
Actually, my cousin THOR, from Virginia Tech was supposed to go for the competition
and I was just THOR's training partner
I did a lot of trainings for my cousin, THOR
I got to go through blocks, then tore my knees many times
I got exhausted with headaches because I worked so hard in many difficult tasks
Although I hurt a lot, I had fully enjoyed the training,
because it is all for my brother
However, as December approached, THOR was not fully prepared,
because he was challenging super difficult technology
Just one month before the competition, my dad and other doctors
in my team put me in the place of THOR
I felt... "WHAAAAAT!!!!!"
I thought my job was just taking a quiz, but suddenly they wanted me to take the SAT!!
Well, what should I do.. I should keep go on
My team was counting on me
I didn't want to give up, so I decided to do my best
So, my parents, uncles and aunts upgraded me specifically for the competition
Seriously, in a month of period, they worked SO HARD to make me improved
Good lord... Of course, I went through a REAL HARD TIME
for preparations, oh my lord...
I got the train 24 hours a day
Whenever I was not in actions, I had to study
I walked until my shoes wore out
However, they all worked so hard like that, I couldn't make them down, never, ever
Despite all swirling storm around us caused by a short time of preparation,
we made it terrific
In the competition, I successfully drove a car
Even, I won the valve closing contest
But for the door mission, even though I opened the door 5 times,
I couldn't complete it because of really bad headwind
I would like to show you how I did it
Eventually, I finished in 9th place out of 16 teams
DRC granted 1 million dollars to each first 8 teams as an award,
and I barely missed it because I was 9th
ONE POINT more, I could be the 8th. I was SO CLOSE
If I just didn't make one mistake, I could receive the fund
I was so sorry to my parents, uncles , aunt, I made them down
However, they cheered me up. They were a little bit disappointed but not that much
They encouraged me for the all effort
In this moment, I sincerely appreciate everyone who has been cheering me up
Thank you so much.
DARPA Robotics Challenge finals will take place on December 2014
This time, the missions will be way more challenging
than previous, and closer to the real disaster situation
Sincerely, I want in Because I have a good feeling about this time
I know my specifications might not match to my fellow competitors
However, I trust the potential and passion of all my family members
Also, for the DRC finals this winter,
I will take the training even harder with my siblings, so that I can put on a better show
You can count on me!
Once DARPA Robotics Challenge ends, I think that robot technology will be advanced a lot
In my case, I got advanced a lot in such a short time
My dad said that we were created to assist humans
Therefore, if some tasks are too dangerous, too risky,
or even too bothersome for humans, we must do these
I will be delighted to undertake that role
However, many people feel uncomfortable about us
When I show up, people got surprise, and even a bit scared
I think they might not be ready to yet
They are worrying what if I am heavy-duty machine
but in malfunction, then I could harm people
Unfortunately, that is true
I can be broken, because I am a machine
However I believe, if people build me up very precisely,
and utilize me properly,
I can be very useful for people and can be a good friend as well
In this reason, I ask you to prevent people
who want to utilize robots improperly
or build robots haphazardly
If, in case, bad robots appear, I will be in the forefront to stop them
Robots have been created "of the people, by the people, for the people"
Thank you for listening. Thank you!
- English Subtitle by Jeakwon Han & Younsheal Eum