Hubots: Real-World Robots Inspired by Humans

by Helaine Becker, Alex Ries (Illustrator)

Using increasingly sophisticated levels of artificial intelligence (AI) and embodied intelligence (EI), a new generation of robots is being designed to look, act and even think like humans. Hubots, or human-inspired robots, are expanding the boundaries of what robots can do. Here, ten different real-life hubots are described, highlighting each one's appearance, unique skills and purpose --- from fighting fires on the high seas, to acting as setup crew for space colonies, to providing companionship for the elderly. The book also includes an illustrated graph of the uncanny valley, which shows us what distinguishes a friendly robot from a creepy one, and back matter that provides a closer examination of some of the robots' physical components and looks to the future of these fascinating machines.

The creators of the popular Zoobots bring to life the groundbreaking robotics technology that's changing the world. Award-winning author Helaine Becker uses short paragraphs and accessible vocabulary to present a book that will appeal to even the most reluctant readers. Hyperrealistic illustrations by Alex Ries enhance the interest level of the material for children, especially those who love all things that are weird, unfamiliar and futuristic. Reference tools include a glossary and an index. This topic spans science, technology, inventions and engineering lessons. It also provides a terrific jumping-off point for classroom discussions about the larger societal issues surrounding these cutting-edge robots.

Genres: Nonfiction, Canada, Stem, Robots, Childrens

32 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 2018

About the author

Helaine Becker has written over 70 books, including the #1 National bestseller, A Porcupine in a Pine Tree,and its sequel, Dashing through the Snow, Sloth at the Zoom, Dirk Daring, Secret Agent, the Looney Bay All-Stars chapter book series, non-fiction including Counting on Katherine, Worms for Breakfast and Zoobots (all Junior Library Guild Selections), Monster Science, You Can Read, Lines Bars and Circles, and Boredom Blasters, plus many picture books and young adult novels. She also writes for children’s magazines and for children's television. Her show Dr. Greenie's Mad Lab was a finalist at MIP.com Junior in Cannes.
She has won the Lane Anderson Award for Science Writing for Children twice,once for The Big Green Book of the Big Blue Sea and once for The Insecto-Files, and the Picture Book of the Year Award from the Canadian Booksellers Association for A Porcupine in a Pine Tree. She has also won three Silver Birch awards and a Red Cedar award.

Helaine Becker holds U.S. and Canadian citizenship. She attended high school in New York, university in North Carolina (Go Blue Devils!!!!) and now lives in Toronto with her husband and dog, Ella. She has two really handsome sons.

Reviews

[Etienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Non-fiction book that try to explain the basics of robotic to children, something around 8 years old probably. It presented a series of prototypes design for various purpose, while explaining why and how there are made (very basically). Well done, easy to read, accessible to a young public. If you have a chil who have an interest in robot, this book might please him!

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Readers of books on drones, robotics, the military, and other STEM-based subjects will avidly flip through the pages of this book on humanoid robots, who is designing them and their current purposes. Helaine Becker includes information on designer and location for each featured "hubot," as well. Illustrator Alex Ries,' known for the fabulous art in the award-winning "Zoobots," continues his excellence using a variety of media such as graphic design, paint, and 3D modeling. While the text may be more difficult than many 4th and 5th graders want to stick with, readers in grades 4-10 will all find something that piques their interest in this one. Thanks for the dARC, Edelweiss.

[Sunday · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written. Super interesting facts. A hubot that is part of a musical cast? A team of hubots that are creating their own language? A hubot that can save people from a house on fire or a natural disaster? Book talk excitedly and put in the hands of students who are interested in anything robotic, in engineering, in design and beyond. GREAT FOR STEM CLASSROOMS and every other kid, really.

Layout and design are consistent and reader-friendly. Each two-page layout includes the name of the hubot, the team name, the domain (in which it travels - Earth, air, fire, etc.), mission, special ops, applications, status updates (because some of these are still projects and not complete) plus visuals.
Details about what stage of development the hubot is in and with what organization.

Note: Would require the reader to have some background knowledge related to technology--quite a bit of domain specific vocabulary.

[Wunderdrugged · Rating 3 out of 5]

This title is nominated for the 2020 Hackmatack Award in the non-fiction category. I have to be honest, I completely understood what the author was talking about when discussing the uncanny valley. If I spend too much time thinking about humanoid robots it really creeps me out! However, I am not the target audience for this book. The fact that the illustrations were drawings and not photographs kept it from being too 'real' for my adult brain. But if I was a kid with a fascination with robots, I probably would have wanted to see actual photographs. I think that kids, especially those interested in STEAM in general or robotics specifically, would really get into this book. I would recommend it to kids who enjoy non-fiction.

[Brooklyn || The Wild Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read & evaluated this book for the Vancouver Children's Round Table (VCLR)'s 2019 Information Book Award.

As someone who usually doesn't find robots etc. very interesting, I was pleasantly surprised with this book. It's amazing! The layout of information was easy to navigate, yet still imaginative and creative. I enjoyed how the book covered what "hubots" are (humanized robots), where science is at now, and where science will go in the future in regards to hubots. For each hubot, the reader was given superhero-like categories (i.e. "name/realm/applications/mission") to describe what its purpose was in the real world. There is also a glossary, index, and list of additional resources.

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

Search and rescue droids, robots to provide company and assistance for the elderly, and even robots that can play football together (and dance like Peter Crouch when they score, perhaps) – all are here in this very good non-fiction read for the under-twelves. Every chapter is just a single double-page spread, and if not discussing some prototype robot somewhere it'll look at another aspect of their existence. Inspiring and informative – ought to be seriously thought of for school libraries etc.

[Amanda Sanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

This nonfiction book on robots has amazing and icky facts. I love knowing they are focusing a lot of robot research on rescue and safety. I don't know why they are creating robots that can sing or play soccer. The high schooler's robotics teams are working on robots that can put a ball in a net so why do major companies work on that? There is a section that talks about the ick factor in robots. It's true. I had an ick reaction to Pepper the companion robot. Ew. Get a dog. Great book for robot research!

[Betsy Ellor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't usually review non-fiction but this one inspired me to start. I think this is the first non-fiction book that we have sat down and read cover to cover (over the course of 3-4 sessions). He hung on every word, fact and image. The writing was compelling enough to both keep his attention and to explain thing clearly. Yet the information was new enough I was enthralled, too. (Also creeped out - it's SkyNet!) But this is one you can both learn from and enjoy together.

[Laura Giessler · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can imagine certain readers LOVING this book! Full of intriguing information and illustrations of robots that are in development and operation. Definitely not a book to read aloud, but one could certainly book-talk it and generate a lot of interest!

[Peyton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt this book was kind of boring. It was really wordy and I was falling asleep. I think if I had an interest in robotics I would really enjoy this, but I don't. It is great for kids who are interested in robots.

[Roger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engrossing, ultra modern innovative technologies research!

With amazing illustrations by Alex Ries the content of this book is fantastic. All the models and prototypes of androids presented here are more than incredible, from the most sophisticated to perform rescue tasks too dangerous for humans, to those designed for entertainment and sympathetic caregiving.

This book shows us the characteristics of each model and informs us of important issues, for example its design has been taken more and more into account to trigger a positive human response and, on the other hand, are being used as research models for studying the workings of the human brain. Therefore, some androids are being programmed with the ability to think or embodied intelligence because they are built with sensors to learn from the interaction with their environment. I was also astonished to learn that developers are looking to create computer brains from which eventually emerges human-like consciousness!!

My sincere appreciation to the Publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to review the book