Meet the Scarlett Johansson humanoid
Ricky Ma realized his childhood dream at the age of 42, by successfully constructing a life-sized robot from scratch on the balcony of his home AND it looks an awful lot like Hollywood star Scarlett Johansson.
The fruit of Ma's labors of a year-and-a-half, and a budget of more than $50,000, is a female robot prototype he calls the "Mark 1" (otherwise known as ... a certain Hollywood actress). She responds to a set of programmed verbal commands spoken into a microphone.
Scarlett Johansson humanoid
Ma, a product and graphic designer, explains the face and color tracking functions of his life-size robot "Mark 1" in Hong Kong, March 31, 2016.
Scarlett Johansson look-a-like
"I figured I should just do it when the timing is right and realize my dream. If I realize my dream, I will have no regrets in life," said Ma, who had to learn about fields completely new to him before he could build the complex gadget.
Scarlett Johansson humanoid
Verbal commands are listed on a laptop computer for Ma to control his life-size robot "Mark 1."
Scarlett Johansson look-a-like
A 3D-printed skeleton lies beneath Mark 1's silicone skin, wrapping its mechanical and electronic parts. About 70 percent of the humanoid's body was created using 3D printing technology.
Ma's journey of creation was a lonely one, however. He said he did not know of anyone else in the former British colony who builds humanoid robots as a hobby and few in the city understood his ambition.
Scarlett Johansson humanoid
The humanoid, who wears a grey skirt and cropped top, has blonde hair and liquid eyes. It can make simple movements of its arms and legs, turning its head and bowing.
Scarlett Johansson humanoid
The Scarlett Johansson look-a-like can create detailed facial expressions.
In response to the compliment, "Mark 1, you are so beautiful," her brows and the muscles around her eyes relax, and the corners of her lips lift, creating a natural-seeming smile, and she says, "Hehe, thank you."
Scarlett Johansson humanoid
"During this process, a lot of people would say things like, 'Are you stupid? This takes a lot of money. Do you even know how to do it?' It's really hard," Ma said.
He adopted a trial-and-error method in which he encountered obstacles ranging from frequent burnt-out electric motors to the robot losing its balance and toppling over.
Scarlett Johansson look-a-like
When you look at everything together, it was really difficult," said Ma, who had to master unfamiliar topics from electromechanics to programming along the way, besides learning how to fit the robot's external skin over its components.
A balcony served as Ma's workshop in his unit at a residential flat in Hong Kong, March 31, 2016.
Scarlett Johansson look-a-like
Ma, who believes the importance of robots will only grow, hopes an investor will buy his prototype, giving him the capital to build more, and wants to write a book about his experience, to help other enthusiasts.
Scarlett Johansson humanoid
Ma gives "Mark 1" voice commands.
Humanoid
Childhood drawings of robots by Ma are seen in Hong Kong, March 31, 2016.
While a dream for some the rise of robots and artificial intelligence are among disruptive labor market changes that the World Economic Forum projects will lead to a net loss of 5.1 million jobs over the next five years.
The real Scarlett Johansson may have to watch out!
Scarlett Johansson humanoid
Ma's journey of creation was a lonely one, however. He said he did not know of anyone else in the former British colony who builds humanoid robots as a hobby and few in the city understood his ambition.