Insight Trip  _____  Robot Studio

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Imagining Life With Robots

Imagine a technologically advanced future several decades from now. Domestic robots are making food in homes while AI robots make important decisions for humans in our workplaces. We are fast approaching a robotic future as envisioned in movies. Global corporations have recognized the robot industry as the future, creating heated competition in the global advanced robot technology market. Robot Studio Robot Studio is a place where visitors can learn about the latest developments in the robot industry and its future through play. Imagine the future of robots through play and hands on activities.

Playing With Robots!

I boarded the train to Chuncheon in autumn,
beautifully colored by fall foliage, to meet the robots at Robot Studio in Chuncheon.
After a short journey spent admiring the fall landscape I was passing through, I arrived at Chuncheon station.
Robot Studio is a showcase of the present and future of the Korean robot and toy industry.
Visitors learn about the principles of robots naturally through play and hands-on activities,
rather than simply viewing the robots on display.

At the entrance to the Robot Experience Hall on the first floor, the 'Hi Robot!' greets the visitors warmly.
There are also guide robots that can play simple games like 'rock paper scissors' and show visitors around the Robot Studio.

The first robot you meet is the humanoid robot ‘Thespian', made using Korean technology.
This robot, which has human height and human features, moves naturally using pneumatic muscles and LCD and LED lights.
It talks and expresses emotions, acting out scenes from movies such as 'Star Wars', ’Wizard of Oz', and 'Jaws'.

The Robot Experience Hall is filled with a wide range of robot activity stations for everyone, young and old.
It also provides a great overview of Korean robot technology. Users can operate robot cars using arrows on a smart pad to get out of mazes.
I watched a father and son racing to see who could reach the finish line first.

The most popular robot activities among young visitors in the Robot Experience Hall are robot boxing and robot soccer.
A remote control is used to operate robots in a small ring wearing boxing gloves. ‘Left, right, hook!’ The robot on the receiving end falls, ending the game.
Remarkably, the fallen robot gets up on its own. Highly advanced technology is required for the robot to regain balance and get up after falling.
Robot soccer is a soccer game played by robots instead of humans.

Learning About IT Through Play

On the second floor is a performance hall, where the 'Magic Robot Circus' performs dance routines to music.
DJ Pom Pom signals the start of the robot dance in the screens installed in the front and sides.
Humanoid robots dance in unison to ‘Dangerous’ by Michael Jackson and ‘Gangnam Style’ by Psy.

The energetic performance ends and it’s time to take a look at the toy and robot industry through a wide range of games.
The second floor contains robot zoetropes showing the animation 'Gureumbbang', helping viewers understand the process of animation
production and the principles working behind toys Turn the button and animation characters in the zoetrope perform a happy dance.
You can also experience drone flying in virtual reality.
The station is equipped with actual remote controls for drones, allowing the user to fly the drone freely.

The next activity allows users to feel like they are in a movie.
The goal of the maze is to pass through the dark room and get to the exit without coming into contact with the laser beams.
Users dodge and duck like Tom Cruise in 'Mission Impossible'. What if there was a robot that replicated one’s movements exactly, like in the movie 'Avatar'.
Those who are intrigued by this possibility may try the 'Robot Avatar' activity in the Robot Experience Hall on the first floor.
A robot avatar generated on the screen moves exactly as the user does.
A wide range of robot avatars are available, opening up further possibilities in the young visitors’ minds.

Robots Are Shaped by Imagination

The Robot Studio also has an exhibit of toys from robot animations.
The development of the robot industry in the present has been inspired by the human imagination.
Animation in particular has broadened the scope of our imagination with regard to robots.
The inspiration provided by animation is apparent looking at the similarities between
robot technologies being developed today and the robots in movies and animation.

Robot animation also shows the evolution of robot generations over the years. First generation robots were extensions of toy technologies,
being controlled by a control panel. A key example is 'Cheorin 28', represented by a toy robot on display.
Second generation robots were vehicle type robots. A famous example of this is 'Mazinga Z'. People board the robots directly,
controlling the robots to fight enemies. Third generation robots were integrated robots, represented by 'Evangelions' and 'Robot Taekwon V'.
These robots where not simply robot weapons, but had personalities of their own.
These robots may be seen as the equivalent of what we call AI robots today. In the fourth generation, robots develop their own intelligence.
They are able to make decisions and take actions on their own. Famous examples of these are 'Astro Boy' and 'Transformers'.

The tour of the Robot Studio ends with a show at the Super Realistic Movie Theater.
The animated film 'Gureumbbang' is shown on a large screen with 4D effects.
The entire experience was a great opportunity to experience robot technology first hand,
understand the current status of the robot industry, and imagine its future.
As robot and toy technologies have been developed by the human imagination,
the Robot Studio plays has an important role to play,
enriching the imaginations of children who will shape the future of the robot and toy industries.