PNoy robot can speak 4 languages

abs-cbnNEWS.com
Posted at 12/22/2010

MANILA, Philippines - "PNoy" knows how to treat the elderly with respect.


The 3'5"-foot robot, inspired by President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, can greet with "magandang araw," say "po" and "opo," and conclude with "maraming salamat."

It can also reach out for a person's hand and do the "pagmamano," a uniquely Filipino gesture.

PNoy was a brainchild of students from Dr. Yanga's College in Bulacan, who bagged a gold medal in the World Robot Olympiad held in Manila last month.

Ma. Nerissa Nicolas, one of the creators, said the robot is aimed at making the Philippines more attractive to tourists.

"Naniniwala po ang grupo na ang pangulo ng Pilipinas 'yung unang magpro-promote ng turismo ng Pilipinas sa ibang nation kaya we named it after PNoy," Nicolas said .

("We believe that the President of the Philippines is the first person to promote Philippine tourism to other nations, so we named it after PNoy.")

Aside from Filipino, PNoy can communicate effectively with foreigners as it can say greetings in English, Spanish and Korean. On its chest is a small screen that shows tourist attractions in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

"Kung ikaw ay isang turista, you don't need to go kung kani-kanino pa kasi na kay PNoy na lahat," said Bely Cruz, a robotics coach at Dr. Yanga's College.

When PNoy is fully developed, the group plans to place the robot at airports and other places where there are many tourists. -- abs-cbnNEWS.com, report from Julius Babao, ABS-CBN News