Editing David Hanson (robotics designer)

{{short description|American roboticist}}
{{other people|David Hanson}}
{{infobox person
| birth_name         = David Hanson Jr.
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|1969|12|20}}
| birth_place        = [[Dallas, Texas]]
| name               = 
| image              = Sophia with her creator David Hanson at Digital World 2017 conference, Dhaka, Bangladesh in December 2017.jpg
| caption            = Hanson at the Digital World 2017 conference held in Dhaka, Bangladesh
| alma_mater         = [[Rhode Island School of Design]]<br>[[University of Texas at Dallas]]
| occupation         = Robotics designer
| known              = Creator of [[Sophia (robot)|Sophia]]
| children           = 1<ref>{{Cite news |last=Slagle |first=Matt |date=2007-09-12 |title=Lifelike boy robot may mark start of social 'bots |work=NBC News |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna20748776 |access-date=2023-06-09}}</ref>
}}
'''David Hanson Jr.''' {{postnom|PhD}} is an American roboticist who is the founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of [[Hanson Robotics Limited|Hanson Robotics]], a Hong Kong–based robotics company founded in 2013.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://fortune.com/2017/10/26/robot-citizen-sophia-saudi-arabia/|title=Saudi Arabia Just Granted Citizenship to a Robot|work=Fortune|access-date=2017-12-20|language=en}}</ref>

The designer and researcher creates human-looking robots who have realistic facial expressions, including [[Sophia (robot)|Sophia]] and other robots designed to mimic human behavior.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thnk.org/david-hanson-brings-robots-to-life/|title=David Hanson brings robots to life - THNK|date=2011-03-24|work=THNK|access-date=2017-12-20|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222104903/https://www.thnk.org/david-hanson-brings-robots-to-life/|archive-date=2017-12-22|url-status=dead}}</ref> Sophia has received widespread media attention, and was the first robot to be granted citizenship.

== Early life and education ==
Hanson was born on December 20, 1969, in [[Dallas, Texas]], United States. He studied at Highland Park High School for his senior year to focus on math and science. As a teenager, Hanson's hobbies included drawing and reading science fiction works by writers like [[Isaac Asimov]] and [[Philip K. Dick]]—the latter of whom he would later replicate in android form.<ref name="popsci"/>

Hanson has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the [[Rhode Island School of Design]] in Film, Animation, Video (FAV) and a Ph.D. from the [[University of Texas at Dallas]] in interactive arts and engineering.<ref name="DePauw University">{{Cite news|url=https://www.depauw.edu/news-media/latest-news/details/33398/|title='Meet the Future' at a Feb. 28 Ubben Lecture Featuring David Hanson and His Robot Creation, Sophia - DePauw University|work=DePauw University|access-date=2017-12-20|language=en|archive-date=2018-11-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181121104128/https://www.depauw.edu/news-media/latest-news/details/33398/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Alumnus Creates Robotics Company - Corporate Relations - The University of Texas at Dallas|url=https://www.utdallas.edu/corporate/news/david-hanson/index.html|website=www.utdallas.edu|accessdate=24 January 2018|archive-date=30 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160830184355/http://www.utdallas.edu/corporate/news/david-hanson/index.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.hansonrobotics.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/DavidHansonPhD-CV_2018-12-05.pdf|title=David Hanson Resume|last=Hanson|first=David|date=2018-12-05|website=hansonrobotics.com|access-date=}}</ref> In 1995 as part of an independent-study project on out-of-body experiences, he built a humanoid head in his own likeness, operated by a remote operator.<ref name="popsci"/>

== Career ==
[[File:Einstein-Hubo.jpg|thumb|''"Albert Hubo"'', a robot created by Hanson and the KAIST Hubo group]]Hanson’s career has focused on creating humanlike robots.<ref name="DePauw University"/> Hanson's most well-known creation is Sophia, the world's first ever robot citizen.<ref name=":0" />

In 2004 at a Denver [[American Association for the Advancement of Science]] (AAAS) conference, Hanson presented K-Bot, a robotic head created with polymer skin, finely sculpted features, and big blue eyes. Named after his lab assistant Kristen Nelson, the robot head had 24 servomotors for realistic movement and cameras in its eyes. At the time he was 33 years old and a graduate student at the University of Texas Dallas.<ref name=popsci>{{Cite news|url=https://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2003-08/man-who-mistook-his-girlfriend-robot?nopaging=1|title=The Man Who Mistook His Girlfriend for a Robot|work=Popular Science|access-date=2017-12-20|language=en}}</ref>

After he graduated from university, Hanson worked as an artist, and went on to work for Disney where he was a sculptor and material researcher in the Disney Imagineering Lab.<ref name=popsci /> He has worked as a designer, sculptor, and robotics developer for Universal Studios and MTV. In 2004, Hanson built the humanoid robot Hertz, a female presenting animated robot head that took about nine months to build.<ref name=human>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna4137259|title=Can robots look all too human? |date=2004-02-02 |work=msnbc.com |access-date=2017-12-20|language=en}}</ref>

Hanson is the founder and CEO of Hong Kong-based Hanson Robotics, which was founded in 2013.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/leifwalcutt/2017/05/24/the-contrived-likeness-of-humanoid-robots/#4008aab35652|title=The Contrived Likeness Of Humanoid Robots |last=Walcutt |first=Leif|work=Forbes|access-date=2017-12-20|language=en}}</ref>

Hanson has been published in materials science, artificial intelligence, cognitive science, and robotics journals.<ref name="DePauw University"/>

Hanson argues precise human looks are a must if people are going to effectively communicate with robots. Hanson believes social humanoid robots have the potential to serve humanity in a variety of functions and helping roles, like tutor, companion, or security guard.<ref name=human /> He argues the realism of his work has the potential to pose "an identity challenge to the human being," and that realistic robots may polarize the market between those who love realistic robots and those who find them disturbing.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/news/robotics/2006-11-22-humanistic-robots_x.htm|title=Scientists try to make robots more human - USATODAY.com|website=usatoday30.usatoday.com|access-date=2017-12-20}}</ref> Many of Hanson's creations currently serve at research or non-profit institutions around the world, including at  the University of Cambridge, University of Geneva, University of Pisa and in laboratories for cognitive science and AI research.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://earthsky.org/human-world/david-hanson-creates-robots-with-human-faces|title=David Hanson creates robots with human faces {{!}} EarthSky.org|website=earthsky.org|date=25 April 2012 |language=en-US|access-date=2017-12-20}}</ref>

Hanson's creation Zeno, a two-foot tall robot designed in the style of a cartoon boy, provides treatment sessions to children with autism in Texas as a result of a collaboration between the University of Texas at Arlington, Dallas Autism Treatment Center, Texas Instruments and National Instruments, and Hanson.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://food.ndtv.com/health/how-robots-are-helping-children-with-autism-736433|title=How Robots are Helping Children with Autism|work=NDTV Food|access-date=2017-12-20}}</ref>

Other robots include Albert Einstein HUBO, a robotic head designed to look like [[Albert Einstein]]'s and put it on top of the "HUBO" bipedal robotic frame,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/einstein-robot-albert-hub_n_363953|title=Einstein Robot 'Albert Hubo' Physicist Back To Life (VIDEO)|date=2010-03-18|work=HuffPost Canada|access-date=2017-12-20|language=en-CA}}</ref> and Professor Einstein, a 14.5 inch [[personal robot]] that engages in conversation and acts as a companion/tutor.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.engineering.com/DesignerEdge/DesignerEdgeArticles/ArticleID/14180/Hanson-Robotics-Develops-Professor-Einstein-Your-Personal-Genius.aspx|title=Hanson Robotics Develops Professor Einstein, Your Personal Genius|website=engineering.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-12-20}}</ref>

Hanson collaborated with musician [[David Byrne]] on ''Song for Julio'', which appeared at the Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid in 2008 as part of the  ''Máquinas&Almas'' (Souls&Machines)<!--note: there is no space in the title--> exhibit, and his creations have appeared in other museums around the world.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://elpais.com/diario/2008/06/30/cultura/1214776807_850215.html |title=El robot de David Byrne |website=El Pais |date=30 June 2008 |access-date=14 August 2018 |language=es|last1=Constenla |first1=Tereixa }}</ref>

== Educational institutions ==
From 2011 to 2013 Hanson was an adjunct professor of Computer Science and Engineering Teaching at the University of Texas at Arlington. He also taught in 2010 at the University of North Texas as an adjunct professor in fine arts, kinetic/interactive sculpture, and at the University of Texas at Dallas as an instructor of independent study in interactive sculpture.<ref name=":1" />

== Public and media appearances ==
Hanson has keynote speeches at leading international technology conferences such as the Consumer Electronics Show<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/robots-take-on-ces-2017/|title=Robots steal the show at CES 2017|date=2017-01-07|access-date=2017-12-20|language=en}}</ref> and IBC.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2017/artisans/news/new-technology-at-ibc-points-the-way-to-the-future-of-content-doctor-einstein-1202555690/|title=New Technology at IBC Leads the Way to the Future of Content|last=Caranicas|first=Peter|date=2017-09-13|work=Variety|access-date=2017-12-20|language=en-US}}</ref>

== Selected publications ==

=== Books ===
*{{cite book |last1=Bar-Cohen |first1=Yoseph |last2=Hanson |first2=David |year=2009 |editor1-first=Ari |editor1-last=Marom |title=The Coming Robot Revolution: Expectations and Fears About Emerging Intelligent, Humanlike Machines |publisher=Springer |place=New York |isbn=978-0387853482}}

=== Papers ===
* {{cite conference |url=http://studylib.net/doc/13665897/identity-emulation--ie--bio-inspired-facial-expression-in... |last1=Hanson |first1=D. |title=Bio-inspired Facial Expression Interface for Emotive Robots |conference=AAAI National Conference |place=Edmonton, Canada |year=2002}}
* {{cite conference |url=http://docplayer.net/62389255-Danilo-de-rossi-university-of-pisa-via-diotisalvi-pisa-italy-tel.html |last1=Hanson |first1=D. |last2=White |first2=V. |title=Converging the Capabilities of ElectroActive Polymer Artificial Muscles and the Requirements of Bio-inspired Robotics |conference=Proc. SPIE‘s Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices Conf., 10th Smart Structures and Materials Symposium |place=San Diego, US |year=2004}}
* {{cite book |chapter-url=https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/8144/8541216c0b6e01137943c941b5937932df16.pdf |last=Hanson |first=D. |chapter=Bioinspired Robotics |title=Biomimetics |editor-first=Yoseph |editor-last=Bar-Cohen |publisher=CRC Press |date=2005|doi=10.1109/ROMAN.2009.5326148 |s2cid=8768746 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222051703/https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/8144/8541216c0b6e01137943c941b5937932df16.pdf |archive-date=2017-12-22 }}
* {{cite conference |url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0092656617300181 |last=Hanson |first=D. |title=Expanding the Aesthetics Possibilities for Humanlike Robots |journal=Journal of Research in Personality |conference=Proc. IEEE Humanoid Robotics Conference, special session on the Uncanny Valley |place=Tskuba, Japan |date=December 2005|volume=68 |pages=96–113 |doi=10.1016/j.jrp.2017.02.001 |url-access=subscription }}
* {{cite conference |last1=Hanson |first1=D. |last2=Bergs |first2=R. |last3=Tadesse |first3=Y. |last4=White |first4=V. |last5=Priya |first5=S. |title=Enhancement of EAP Actuated Facial Expressions by Designed Chamber Geometry in Elastomers |conference=Proc. SPIE‘s Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices Conf., 10th Smart Structures and Materials Symposium |place=San Diego, CA |year=2006}}
*{{cite journal |first1=Y. |last1=Tadesse |first2=S. |last2=Priya |first3=H. |last3=Stephanou |first4=D. |last4=Popa |first5=D. |last5=Hanson |year=2006 |title=Piezoelectric Actuation and Sensing for Facial Robotics |journal=Ferroelectrics |volume=345 |number=1 |pages=13–25 |doi=10.1080/00150190601018010|bibcode=2006Fer...345...13T |s2cid=122300723 }}
* {{cite thesis |type=PhD dissertation |asin=B072MFGVBR |title=Humanizing Interfaces — an Integrative Analysis of HumanLike Robots |publisher=University of Texas at Dallas |orig-year=2007 |year=2017 |first=David |last=Hanson}}
* {{cite conference |last1=Hanson |first1=D. |last2=Baurmann |first2=S. |last3=Riccio |first3=T. |last4=Margolin |first4=R. |last5=Dockins |first5=T. |last6=Tavares |first6=M. |last7=Carpenter |first7=K. |title=Zeno: a Cognitive Character |conference=AAAI Conference on Artificial Intelligence |year=2008 |url=https://ww.aaai.org/Papers/Workshops/2008/WS-08-08/WS08-08-003.pdf |pages=9–11}}
* {{cite journal |url=https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1&type=pdf&doi=934c713a48e81c7085476b5428ea1644567d6010 |last1=Hanson |first1=D. |last2=Mazzei |first2=D. |last3=Garver |first3=C. |last4=De Rossi |first4=D. |last5=Stevenson |first5=M. |title=Realistic Humanlike Robots for Treatment of ASD, Social Training, and Research; Shown to Appeal to Youths with ASD, Cause Physiological Arousal, and Increase Human-to-Human Social Engagement |journal=PETRA |year=2012}}
* {{cite conference |last1=Mazzei |first1=D. |last2=Lazzeri |first2=N. |last3=Hanson |first3=D. |last4=De Rossi |first4=D. |title=HEFES: An Hybrid Engine for Facial Expressions Synthesis to Control Human-Like Androids and Avatars |conference=The Fourth IEEE RAS/EMBS International Conference on Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics |year=2012 |doi=10.1109/BioRob.2012.6290687}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Bergman |first1=M. |last2=Zhuang |first2=Z. |last3=Palmiero |first3=A. |last4=Wander |first4=J. |last5=Heimbuch |first5=B. |last6=McDonald |first6=M. |last7=Hanson |first7=D. |title=Development of an Advanced Respirator Fit Test Headform |journal=J Occup Environ Hyg |year=2014 |volume=11 |number=2 |pages=117–25 |doi=10.1080/15459624.2013.816434 |pmid=24369934 |pmc=4470376|bibcode=2014JOEH...11..117B }}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{official website|http://www.hansonrobotics.com/}}
* {{TED speaker}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hanson, David}}
[[Category:1969 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American expatriates in Hong Kong]]
[[Category:American roboticists]]
[[Category:American sculptors]]
[[Category:American technology chief executives]]
[[Category:Hong Kong chief executives]]
[[Category:People from Dallas]]
[[Category:Rhode Island School of Design alumni]]
[[Category:University of North Texas alumni]]
[[Category:University of Texas at Dallas alumni]]