Artistic robot can sketch a face

Scientists have developed an artistic robot that can accurately draw a human face in just ten minutes.

'Robotticelli' is an industrial robot which has been adapted to sketch an authentic interpretation of its subject.

The robot installation was developed by artists in the robotlab group at the Centre for Art and Media ZKM in German city, Karlsruhe.

They collaborated with scientists from the Fraunhofer Institute for Optronics, System Technologies and Image Exploitation IOSB, which is where the robot works.

IOSB scientist Martina Richter said: "We have used an image-evaluation process that essentially equips the robot with the sense of sight.

"Once the camera has captured the image, edge-processing software then seeks out the contrasts in the image and translates these to robot coordinates - to the movement of the robot's arm."

Robotticelli will be showing off its creative side at the CeBIT digital technology trade next month when visitors can view the metal painter in action and have it sketch their faces.