Philip K. Dick Android

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The Philip K. Dick Android is a robotic portrait of the science-fiction author, built by Hanson Robotics. First shown at Wired NextFest in 2005, it pairs a lifelike Frubber face with a conversational system built from thousands of pages of Dick's writings. The original head was lost on a flight soon after, and Hanson built a new version in 2011 with Dutch broadcaster VPRO.

Manufacturer
Hanson Robotics
Country
China
OOB Humanoid
#385Rankings →
Launch Year
2023
Price
Not commercially available (one-off research android)
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Quick Overview & Key Facts

Philip K. Dick Android is a humanoid robot made by Hanson Robotics in China, launched in 2023 and built for not publicly disclosed. Featured in “Hanson Robotics’ Philip K. Dick Android shows how teleoperated humanoids can turn author likeness into a conversational machine”.

Mobility
Stationary (robotic head)
Handles
Not publicly disclosed
Sensors
Not publicly disclosed
Operating environment
Not publicly disclosed

See full technical specifications ↓

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What Can Philip K. Dick Android Do?

Core operational tasks and activities demonstrated or performed by Philip K. Dick Android.

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Real-World Applications of Philip K. Dick Android

Industries, working environments, and deployment suitability for Philip K. Dick Android.

Review Videos

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Robot Specifications

Values without a Confirmed badge are compiled from public sources and may not be manufacturer-verified.

Stationary (robotic head)
Dimensions
Life-size robotic head and upper body

Not yet published by Hanson Robotics: warranty terms, safety certifications, EMC compliance, IP rating, noise level, expected lifespan, maintenance schedule, firmware version and 7 more.

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Robot Timeline

Key milestones in this robot's development and rollout

2005

Hanson Robotics creates the Philip K. Dick android, first displayed publicly at Wired NextFest, and the team wins an AAAI award for the conversational portrait.

Source: Wikipedia ↗

2005

An early prototype head is lost during a flight from Dallas to San Francisco.

Source: Wikipedia ↗

2011

Hanson Robotics works with Dutch broadcaster VPRO on a new version with 36 servomotors for a wider range of facial expressions.

Source: Wikipedia ↗

Philip K. Dick Android vs Han, Origin M1, Elf-Xuan 2.0 and Alter 3

Philip K. Dick Android overlaps with these alternatives on Public services and Education and training.

Industries and capabilities are tags, not scores: a tick means the robot is listed for it. Green marks the best figure in a row (highest max speed). Ranges are not ranked.

Philip K. Dick Android compared with Han, Origin M1, Elf-Xuan 2.0 and Alter 3: industries, capabilities, max speed and released
SpecPhilip K. Dick AndroidHanson RoboticsHanHanson RoboticsOrigin M1AheadFormElf-Xuan 2.0AheadFormAlter 3Osaka University and MIXI
Industries
Public servicesYesNoYesNoYes
Education and trainingYesYesYesYesYes
Research and developmentYesYesYesYesYes
Capabilities
Autonomous task executionYesYesYesYesYes
Gesture recognitionYesYesYesYesYes
Human-robot interactionYesYesYesYesYes
LearningYesYesYesYesYes
Max SpeedStationaryStationary0 m/sStationary0 m/s
Released20232015202520252020

Notes such as conditions or alternate figures are left out and values are shown in common units; open each page for the full specs. Browse all Humanoid Robots

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Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to common questions about this robot

Q1. What is Philip K. Dick Android, and what problem is it designed to solve?

The Philip K. Dick Android is a robotic head created by Hanson Robotics resembling science fiction author Philip K. Dick, designed to explore human-like interaction and the boundaries between humans and machines.

Q2. What are the main capabilities and key features of Philip K. Dick Android?

It features facial expressions using Frubber skin, speech recognition, conversational intelligence, and adaptive responses drawn from Dick's writings and life history.

Q3. Who is Philip K. Dick Android built for, and which industries can benefit from it?

Developed as a research project by Hanson Robotics, it targets robotics researchers and serves as a demonstration for AI and human-robot interaction studies in academia and technology.

Q4. Is Philip K. Dick Android a commercial product or still a research prototype?

It is a research prototype built in the mid-2000s by Hanson Robotics, not a commercial product.

Q5. Is Philip K. Dick Android currently available for purchase, and when is it expected to ship?

As of 2026, it is not available for purchase, having been a one-off research project with no announced commercial shipping.

Q6. How does Philip K. Dick Android actually work in real-world environments?

It operates via AI software for conversation, face perception, and emotional expressions, demonstrated in exhibitions but limited to controlled settings.

Q7. When was Philip K. Dick Android announced or officially launched?

Unveiled around 2005-2006 by Hanson Robotics after development starting in 2004, with a rebuilt version shown in 2011.

Q8. How is Philip K. Dick Android different from other robots in the same category?

It uniquely replicates author Philip K. Dick's likeness using patented Frubber skin and integrates his personal history into conversational AI, distinguishing it from general humanoid robots.

Q9. Does Philip K. Dick Android require additional development or customization after purchase?

As a non-commercial prototype, it required ongoing software refinements by developers; no purchase model exists.

Q10. What is the future roadmap or planned upgrades for Philip K. Dick Android?

No specific roadmap announced; Hanson Robotics has focused on subsequent projects like Sophia following the original demonstration.

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