VIDEO: Audi in on developing dashboard-mounted buddy robot
MIT and Audi present Aida -- Click above to watch video
We don't know where carmakers got the idea that we want intelligent robots learning our behavior and then talking to us. Wherever it was, we don't want it any more than they thought we did 25 years ago in a talking Maxima. Nissan has its PIVO concept, which has the distinction of being as creepy as it is cute. Now Audi's in the game with it's much cuter, Wall-E reminiscent cybernetic accomplice, Aida.
In conjunction with MIT labs, Aida – an acronym for Affective Intelligent Driving Agent – is not only meant to help you think less about where you're going and how you're going to get there, she also pays attention to all of your driving so she can start recommending things (we call Aida "she" because of the LED eyeliner).
Yet even though cuter, Aida is just as creepy as PIVO because "after two weeks, Aida learns your favorite areas of town... and builds knowledge about the different activities you enjoy in the city." Eventually Aida knows all of your driving habits and then starts suggesting detours based on real world events happening nearby. That might sound cool until your wife borrows your Audi one day and Aida chirps, "It's 7 a.m.! Time for the crack house!" Follow the jump to watch the video, and prepare for your precocious robot overlords.
[Source: Engadget]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
StefanWRC 11:04AM (11/05/2009)
why would i need this crap?
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PumaGTO 3:42PM (11/05/2009)
It´s like R2D2 on the X-wings. It´s just cool.
AntBee 7:54AM (11/05/2009)
That might sound cool until your wife borrows your Audi one day and Aida chirps, "It's 7 a.m.! Time for the crack house!"
It's too friggin' early for this stuff! Cracked me up big time!
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Hank 8:06AM (11/05/2009)
I hate backseat drivers. Why would I pay for one that can't be dropped off at Macy's?
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arinze 2:44PM (11/05/2009)
LOL!! You guys kill me
DayShifter 8:17AM (11/05/2009)
I remember the days when driving a car just involved......driving a car!!
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Egon 8:21AM (11/05/2009)
Memo to Audi: Stop it. Stop it right now.
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Zamafir 10:10AM (11/05/2009)
I'm turning Japanese
I think I'm turning Japanese
I really think so
Turning Japanese
I think I'm turning Japanese
I really think so
Karil Ballata 8:48AM (11/05/2009)
I want one!
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Aeromax 9:18AM (11/05/2009)
When the day comes that I stop driving my car, and my car starts driving for me, forget it- I'm buying a friggin' bike.
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Jake 9:21AM (11/05/2009)
For some reason I had a 2001 thought. The car finds out that you have been lieing to it or otherwise gets mad at you and locks you out. "I just don't think that this relationship is going to work out, Dave."
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Atomicbri 11:12AM (11/05/2009)
LOL Jake I was thinking the same thing...as AIDAs cute blue squinting smiling eyes forms into one red eye in the center...."Let me in AIDA..."
Hank 11:37AM (11/05/2009)
Eeeeeeeeeeeev-a
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MBZ4me 5:54PM (11/05/2009)
Wacky
Audi
Loves
Lame
-
Electronics
purezerg 10:22PM (11/05/2009)
waaaaaaall-e?
tariq 11:50AM (11/05/2009)
I'll pay NOT to have this crap in my Audi
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fmwso 12:08PM (11/05/2009)
Technology is always advancing and that's a neat idea, however, I wonder if in the future there will be a option to not have this on your car.
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MBZ4me 12:47PM (11/05/2009)
is it going to call me "Navigator" and reply to my orders with "Compliance"?
thank you but NO.
Now, if you want put an R2-D2 thing in the back of my car that tunes the engine while I'm cruiing along and optimizes the fuel economy and can give me an extra boost of power to pass the... um... jerk parked in the fast lane doing 61 then we can talk.
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Sean 12:20PM (11/05/2009)
This doesn't sound distracting.
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Peter Rockwell 1:03PM (11/05/2009)
Will it stop the car for the pedestrian I didn't see because it was in my line of vision, or because I was concentrating on it instead of what's going on outside the car?
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