Singapore’s Robo‑Romance: A High‑Five Tales
Picture a bright, bustling lab in Singapore where Wong Choon Yue, a robotics maverick, puts his left arm in the air and gives a big high‑five to a sensor. On the other side of the room, a sleek little friend named EDGAR (short for Expressions Display and Gesturing Avatar Robot) leaps into action. With a shiny polyethene grin and a pair of chrome hands, it swipes its front palm against his wife‑and‑colleague Pang Wee Ching, mirroring his move in real‑time.
Six Years of Crafting a Digital Handshake
- Since 2019, Wong and Pang have wired up EDGAR to transfer gestures and facial expressions across distances.
- Its mechanical body sits on a wheeled trolley, so it can glide around the lab, giving anyone a virtual high‑five.
- They’re not just playing around – they’re building the future of communication beyond voice and video.
“A Kid Gonna Miss Mom’s Chicken Rice”
“Suppose my kid is overseas and misses my cooking – I can log onto the robot where she is and… well, let’s just say I can make her the best Chinese chicken rice she’s ever tasted!” says Wong, sprinkling a dash of humor into the hope of connecting families via technology.
Next‑Gen Buddy: EDGAR‑2
The duo’s latest creation, EDGAR‑2, adds a whole new layer of chatter. Talking to it feels like a conversation with a well‑meaning robot that can answer questions, offer advice, and even have prolonged discussions about everything from the weather to why pineapple on pizza is a universal crime.
Why It Matters
In a world where Skype and Zoom have become household names, EDGAR and its superstar follow‑up aim to re‑invent how we feel connected. Imagine a future where a simple “wave” from a distant loved one is not just visible – it’s olfactory, proprioceptive, and downright fun.
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Robots Resonate with Folk Music—And Future Parenting Hacks
University student Edora Kwak was suddenly hit with a giggle after her chat with EDGAR‑2, the AI that can belt out traditional Malay tunes. “I think it’s pretty cool,” she said, still buzzing after talking to a robot that’s got a knack for music.
“I never imagined I’d be having a long conversation with a machine,” Edora laughed.
Creators Treat Their Bots Like Babies
Long‑time partners Pang and Wong—who first bumped into each other a decade back in the tech trenches—think of their two creations, EDGAR‑1 and EDGAR‑2, as the kids of their lab.
“We want it to progress, to grow. It seems like there’s life in it,” they said in sync, finishing each other’s sentences as if they were playing a verbal game of catch‑up.
Baby Meets Robot in the Family
Just a month ago, the duo welcomed a little boy named Gabriel. Pang, who coded both bots, chuckles at the idea that the same aspirations that drive their machines might influence how they raise their human mini‑me:
- “Maybe when I take care of the baby and learn more about how human life works, this can be applied to building the intelligence of the robot,” she mused.
