Japan Launches World’s First Idol Robot Mannequin Business Solution [Video]

Robotics company Speecys Corp. announced in a press release that they are starting a new "idol robot mannequin" business model based on Cocona Kosaka 高坂ここな, which they describe as the world's first "beautiful human-sized shigusa robot" (shigusa 仕草 means "gesture" or "movement").

When Cocona Kosaka was first revealed to the public, her movements were somewhat jerky and limited in range, but with each subsequent iteration, she has gained more movable joints allowing her to execute more graceful and fluid movements, and her face has also become more expressive.

Business opportunities with Cocona Kosaka

Through robotics technology, Speecys Corp. has added the possibility of accurate and fluid gestures to the previously inert medium of the mannequin. Through beautiful, supple movements, their robots add a kinetic dimension to the clothes and accessories on display which was not possible with static mannequins, thereby enhancing product value in a novel and unique way that customers have never experienced before.

Cocona Kosaka can be used to attract customers in stores and for corporate promotional activities. With joints allowing 42 degrees of freedom, she can move her eyes as well as her fingers. Her clothes can be easily changed and removed just like a conventional mannequin. Moreover, since she is attached to a platform, Cocona can be easily transported and set up wherever needed, and, unlike autonomous robots, presents no risk of falling down and can safely be positioned near humans.

In her most recent iteration, Cocona Kosaka's 42 degrees of freedom allow her to dance, move her eyes and eyelids, and move her fingers to create gestures which are more expressive than before. For example, her eyes can move up and down, left and right, her eyelids can open and close, and her wrists alone have four degrees of freedom, all of which allow for detailed motions which were not possible in robots until now. Finally, since her motions can be programmed in the popular 3DCG creation software MikuMikuDance, her motion sequences can be created with relative ease.

Demonstration Video

The following video shows off Cocona Kosaka's newfound expressive abilities as she dances to a ballad:

Pricing

Cocona Kosaka can be rented or purchased. The details are below:

Basic rental fee: JPY 1,000,000 (USD 9,255 at current exchange rate) per day (discounts may be available)
Face customization: Estimate JPY 300,000 (USD 2,777)
Clothing customization: Estimate JPY 300,000
Other (events): Transportation, lodging, etc.
Purchase: JPY 20,000,000 (USD 185,100)

Store Promotion Demonstration

This coming weekend, those who are in the Tokyo area will have an opportunity to see Cocona Kosaka at work at a sales promotion event for Ohara Shoten, a shop specializing in Alpaca knit, cotton wear and other goods. The shop, in the Kichijoji area of Tokyo, is about a 3 minute walk from Kichijoji Station (and a 15 minute walk from Speecys Corp.'s offices).