Humanoid androids begin mass production in Russia

Promobot, a Russian company, claims to make the world's first humanoid android.
 The model Robo-C robot can't walk but has a sophisticated personality AI.
 The android can be made to look like any human.
We are well on our way to the sci-fi staple of a world inhabited by both people and
androids. A startup from Russia is launching mass production of robotic clones of humans.
"Promobot" is offering autonomous service androids that can be made to look like anyone on
Earth. The company says their creations are "robot companions," while its Robo-Candroid is
the first of its kind, not only looking like a human but being useful in "business processes".
Aleksei Luzhakov,Promobot's Chairman of the Board of Directors said in a press
release that "Everyone will now be able to order a robot with any appearance — for
professional or personal use." Furthermore, he thinks that their new line of bots will
spearhead an entirely fresh market in education, entertainment and service industries, adding
"Imagine a replica of Michael Jordan selling basketball uniforms and William Shakespeare
reading his own texts in a museum?"
Where else can such a robot be useful? As a consultant, behaving like a regular
employee by answering questions, or as an administrator, performing such tasks as booking
meetings. They can also work in offices or the government, greeting people and relaying
information. And, of course, if you're in the market for a home robot, you should keep in
mind that Robo-Cs can be made to look like any family member. In a way, they can also offer
"digital immortality," as Promobot co-founder Oleg Kivokurtsev expressed to CNBC.
With its AI endowed by 100,000 speech modules, the Promobot's android is able to
reproduce the way any person talks by building linguistic models based on the way the
speech and other knowledge of the subject. The bot's face has 18 moving parts, giving it the
ability to make 600 micro-expressions. One limitation - it currently can't walk but its upper
body has three degrees of free movement. Promobot is now taking orders for the Robo-C,
claiming to already be the biggest manufacturer of autonomous service robots in Northern
and Eastern Europe, whose machines can be found in 35 counties in a variety of professions.
The android can run you from $20,000 to $50,000, based on various customization options.

Promobot launched mass production of life-like robots that look like humans. The company
“Promobot”, a manufacturer of autonomous service robots, began selling a robot with a
human appearance — a robot companion. Android Robo-C is the world’s first humanoid
android, which not only copies the appearance of a person, but is also able to integrate into a
business environment.
The robot is a completely anthropomorphic machine. It copies human facial
expressions: can move its eyes, eyebrows, lips and other “muscles”, and also keep the
conversation going and answer questions. The technology developed by Promobot as well as
its own patented design has over 600 facial expressions that allow the robot to mimic a
human appearance. Specialists working for the company have created their own component
base, and also used the technology to create artificial skin.
Promobot believes that a robot like this is capable of removing the barrier in human-
machine interaction and replacing a number of employees in crowded places– post offices,
banks, and municipal institutions.
The company is also planning to manufacture robots for personal use, such as a
companion or personal assistant — for example, to control smart home systems (in similar
ways as existing voice assistants).
 “Everyone will now be able to order a robot with any appearance — for
professional or personal use. Thus, we open a huge market in service, education
and entertainment. We can build a linguistic model based on popular phrases of a
particular person – the robot will communicate and answer questions by
analyzing frequent expressions of the “original” and using a certain context of
knowledge of this person”, says Aleksei Iuzhakov, Chairman of the Board of
Directors of Promobot.

The manufacturer already has several private orders. Now Promobot is negotiating
with companies interested in purchasing a robot for customer service.
The company “Promobot” was founded in 2015. Today Promobot is the largest
manufacturer of autonomous service robots in Northern and Eastern Europe. Promobots work
in 35 countries as administrators, promoters, consultants, guides and concierges. They can be
found in the Moscow metro, Baltimore airport, Dubai Mall and IKEA stores.

I Provide definitions to the following expressions:

1. humanoid android
2. sci-fi staple
3. autonomous
4. spearhead
5. sophisticated
6. new line of
7. relaying
8. digital immortality
9. endowed
10. anthropomorphic
11. patented
12. barrier
13. on our way