A robot called "Tiro" acts as master of ceremonies at a wedding for Seok Gyeong-Jae (L), one of the engineers who designed it, and his bride in Daejeon, 130 kilometres (78 miles) south of Seoul.

A robot on Sunday acted asmaster of ceremoniesat a South Korean wedding in what its creators claimed as a world first.

Tiro the robot assisted at the wedding of Seok Gyeong-Jae, one of the engineers who designed it, and his bride at Daejeon, 130 kilometres (78 miles) south of Seoul.

"This is Tiro, master of ceremonies for today's wedding," the robot -- featuring a cone-shaped body, two arms and a dark-glassed face with eyes and a mouth of flashing lights -- said in front of smiling guests.

In a male voice, the robot introduced the couple to the crowd, let the couple bow to them and performed its programmed duties.

Manufacturer Hanool Robotics claims it is the first time a robot has been used as master of ceremonies at a wedding.

After its marital duties, Tiro -- whose value was put at some 215,000 dollars -- would be upgraded to perform various other functions, according to Hanool officials.

Small other robots were also at the ceremony to guide guests or give performances.

South Korean robots have also been given harder tasks to tackle. Last month it was reported that a robot dubbed OFRO would be deployed as a school security guard in what was also claimed as a world first.

And last September government unveiled a high-tech,gun-totingsentry robot that could support troops along the heavily fortified border with North Korea.


(Agencies)

上周日，韓國一個機器人做了一把婚禮司儀，它的設計者稱這在全世界還是首例。

這個名叫泰羅的機器人為它的設計工程師之一錫京載的婚禮擔任了司儀，錫工程師的婚禮在位于首爾以南130公里的大田市舉行。

泰羅的身體呈錐形，有兩只胳膊、一張褐色的“玻璃臉”、眼睛和嘴巴閃著亮光，它在笑臉盈盈的各位來賓前自我介紹說：“我是泰羅，我是今天婚禮的司儀。”

泰羅用男性的聲音向來賓介紹一對新人、讓新人向來賓們鞠躬，并履行了其“程序化”的職責。

韓國專業機器人制造公司Hanool Robotics稱，這是世界上首次由機器人擔當婚禮司儀。

據公司有關官員介紹，泰羅的身價約為21萬5千美元，它做完婚禮司儀后將被升級改造，用作他途。

其它幾個小機器人也出現在婚禮現場，主要負責迎賓或表演節目。

韓國的機器人們還被安排過更艱巨的任務。上個月，有消息稱，一個名叫OFRO的機器人被安排到學校當保安，據說這也是世界首例。

去年九月，韓國政府推出了一款持槍的高科技哨兵機器人，這種機器人可為重兵設防的韓朝邊界提供兵力支持。

（來源：英語點津 姍姍編輯）