Toyota's Robots Can Do Almost Anything

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Photo Credit: Toyota-global.com

They guide visitors, chat with clients, clean homes, ferry patients around in a hospital and even play the violin. Meet Toyota's new breed of robots, which are expected to go mainstream, as early as 2010.

Robina (ROBot as INtelligent Assistant) is one of the most polite guides you will ever meet. Her job is to guide visitors through the Toyota Kaikan Exhibition Hall. This four-foot robot is completely independent and can navigate around obstacles, chat with guests and even sign autographs in "cursive".

Even more impressive is the Violin Robot, which played a near flawless rendition of the song "Pomp and Circumstance" - a very famous composition by Edward Elgar. The five-foot tall, all white robot used its mechanical fingers to press the strings correctly and bowed with the other arm, all with almost perfect coordination. Toyota hopes to be able to use this Robot to cheer patients at hospitals or entertain elderly people in homes.

Photo Credit: Toyota-global via YouTube

The third robot introduced was a wheelchair-like "mobility robot", that could help the elderly or sick people move around in hospitals. The robot can navigate its way around bumps and slopes without disturbing the person sitting on it. Toyota's vision is to continue creating similar robots that will help people with their daily lives.

Sources: popularmechanics.com,usatoday.com

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176 Comments
  • Yoover 5 years
    Cool
    • carriganover 5 years
      omg
      • carriganover 5 years
        that is so cool
        • Dogoover 5 years
          Nice! Now thats a smart robot,good job toyota!
          • miaover 5 years
            i need this to do my chores when im doing homework
            • yoyoover 5 years
              I need one to clean my room and help me with my homework amazing
              • YEET boiover 5 years
                I need one I won’t live without one
                • YEET boiover 5 years
                  I want them to clean my room and do my homework
                  • supover 5 years
                    give me one
                    • ethanfay23
                      ethanfay23almost 6 years
                      It looks really weird. I don't like it.