Artist César Vonc
Those familiar with 3D printing are well aware that we pretty much live in the future, where this technology can create almost anything we can imagine. Sometimes, admittedly, the human imagination doesn’t, well, leave much to the imagination.
French artist César Vonc seems to have an active imagination, as well as the talent and drive to bring his creations to fruition. As part of a robotic contest in 2014, Vonc created what he dubbed “the new invention of the next century.” He created the “Soubrobotte,” a 3D printed sex robot.
Modeled with Cinema 4D, rendered with Octane Render, and 3D printed, the robot is still largely conceptual — but it could be a part of the future. For some people, anyway; around 17% of people admit they’d be interested in this type of technology, so there is clearly a market ready and waiting. That survey was done in the UK, but presumably figures are fairly similar this side of the Atlantic.
While the immediate impression of the Soubrobotte (mine, at least) is to be somewhat taken aback, I have to admit that I’m pretty impressed by the detail and sheer amount of work that went into this project. This robot is not only optimized for certain private acts, she is also anatomically correct — through and through. From the mechanical spine down the back to the correctly placed and sized organs, the Soubrobotte seems a very thorough lesson in anatomy (and rather more hands-on than what you might get from a textbook).
This robot is a mock-up, not a working automaton. Still, this seems a sure step in progress toward a fully-realized sex robot design. Working iterations may or may not include the helpful arrow that Vonc included to guide users to the proper placement of the robot’s, ah, lady parts.
Assuming that sex robots are going to be further developed, 3D modeling and printing represent the most likely means to design them. The use of 3D printing allows for adaptability, rapid prototyping, and the use of a variety of materials. With the intricate details of the human body — both internal and external — being key to a successful, realistic robot, 3D design is ideal.
For now, this piece of art remains just that: art. It certainly does generate conversation, which is often an artist’s goal. To that end, Vonc seems to be quite successful. Among Vonc’s other projects are renderings of cockpits, cars, and sexy ladies, most also created using Cinema 4D and Octane Render.
Let us know your thoughts on this project and its implications over at the 3D Printed Sex Robot forum thread at 3DPB.com.