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Alter 3 (Japan)
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Summary:
Alter 3 is an advanced, aesthetically minimal humanoid developed through a collaboration between Osaka University and MIXI. It is designed specifically to explore the nature of expression, social interaction, and creativity. Alter 3 is famous for its advanced vocal and expressive system that allows it to engage in complex, interpretive tasks, famously serving as the conductor for a human orchestra in Tokyo.
Editorial:
The Japanese approach to robotics often borders on the philosophical, and Alter 3 is the ultimate embodiment of that. This robot isn't trying to trick you into thinking it's human; it's using its stark, minimal form to explore what it means to be expressive. When Alter 3 conducted an orchestra, it wasn't just programming—it was interpreting music and translating that interpretation into physical movement. This is the definition of AI creativity. By stripping away unnecessary realistic features, the designers force us to confront the robot's inner intelligence and emotional output. Alter 3 is a pure research platform focused on AI as an artistic collaborator, challenging the boundaries between creativity, performance, and automation. If you want to know what happens when robots move beyond labor and enter the realm of art, Alter 3 is the revolutionary masterpiece to follow.
Specifications:
Physical & Mechanical Specifications
Appearance:
Minimalist, non‑human aesthetic
Exposed internal mechanisms
Only face, neck, and forearms have prosthetic skin (not designed to look fully human)
Actuators:
42 pneumatic actuators
Controlled via compressed‑air systems
Designed to mimic organic, lifelike motion patterns rather than industrial precision
*Control Architecture:
Central Pattern Generator (CPG):
Functions similarly to a human spinal cord
Generates rhythmic, emergent motion patterns
Neural Network:
~1,000 simulated neurons firing in real time
Produces spontaneous, lifelike movement behaviors
LLM Integration (Alter3 variant):
Uses GPT‑4 to map natural‑language commands to robot actions
Capable of performing complex tasks such as taking selfies or performing expressive gestures
*Perception & Interaction:
Designed for expressive communication, not industrial perception
Responds dynamically to environmental stimuli
Used in research on:
Emotional expression
Social interaction
Human response to autonomous robots
*Notable Capabilities:
Highly expressive motion system
Real‑time autonomous behavior generation
Can perform interpretive tasks and artistic performances
Famous for conducting a human orchestra in Tokyo (a world‑first demonstration of expressive android performance)
*Research Domains:
Alter 3 is used extensively in:
Artificial life (ALife) research
Human–robot interaction
Cognitive science
Expressive robotics
Performance art and creative robotics
Studies of “robotic presence” and lifelike behavior
*Positioning:
Alter 3 is not a commercial humanoid like GR‑1, Neo, or Adam. It is an art–science research android, built to explore:
What “life‑like” means in robotics
How humans emotionally respond to autonomous machines
How expressive motion can be generated without pre‑programmed scripts
It is one of the most philosophically significant androids ever built.
Image: minterdial
Company Source:
Developer / Research Groups
Alternative Machine (Japan) https://alternativemachine.co.jp/en/project/alter3/
Osaka University – Ishiguro Lab (Primary research partner; no dedicated Alter‑3 page)
University of Tokyo – Ikegami Lab (Artificial Life research partner)
Key News & Coverage
Official Project Page – Alternative Machine
https://alternativemachine.co.jp/en/project/alter3/
Alter 3 humanoid robot overview (Looking Glass XR)
GPT‑4 powered Alter3 research announcement (VentureBeat)
https://venturebeat.com/ai/alter3-is-the-latest-gpt-4-powered-humanoid-robot/
Alter 3 conducts Android Opera in Tokyo (Robot Reporters)
Alter 3 performance at New National Theatre Tokyo