Hey, I just want to say I love your project. I wouldn't worry about the height thing if the doll is proportioned correctly. There are tons of websites and message boards regarding the "adult" side of dolls and robotics that cover it. There are some laws but for the most part they don't apply. It's mostly religious nuts doing their thing (and ignoring the real stuff that needs to be addressed). The height thing would make the robot a lot cheaper to build and easier to get it walking around. A short anime chick shouldn't be an issue for anyone, especially with an adult-proportioned body.

I'm interested in making a similar project. I'm working on a very dumbtech head right now but am adding facial movement with eye tracking as the first part of the project. It's based on a wireframe body with silicone skin (I found a good looking mask). Inside is a commercial robotic "arm" that I didn't create, but I'd like to DIY something similar and better after I get a 3D printer. I'm considering buying something like the Tonybot and just expanding all of the parts/upgrading the motors, but I don't know if it'll retain its ability to walk. I'm definitely looking at the InMoov product for inspiration as well.

So do you have any videos?

I must mention that if you actually got a working doll together and could sell it inexpensively, you'd be cornering the adult market. There's no inexpensive product (sub $20,000) available and most adult dolls are cheap melted rubber that fall apart. You'd make a killing.

Seems kind of neat, but I think you should focus on basic functions for now. When it can walk around unassisted and communicate at a higher level than a chatbot is the time to start thinking about alternate utility. It would probably also be wise, imho, to stick to making robots that are adult-sized for now, especially if you are serious about the soft parts bit. Smaller robots are probably easier to build, but at 100 cm (or 40 in.) that's basically a -child-.

Thanks for the reply. More functions will open up if it can walk well indeed. The size is an issue, and larger robots are more difficult to build, but more accepted.