Industryweek 2082 15615robots

Toyota Debuts New Robot Models

Jan. 11, 2008
Practical use for household robots remains a few years away.

Toyota Motor Corp. may be best known for its vaunted production system and reputation for quality, but one day its robots could grace households around the globe. In December, the Japanese manufacturer introduced its latest additions to "partner robots" being developed to assist people in their everyday lives.

One, a mobility robot, is designed to assist with short-distance personal transport and is expected to undergo a "practical use" trial at a Toyota facility in the latter half of 2008. Among its features, the robot can travel up to six kilometers per hour and traverse a 10-degree gradient. Additionally, Toyota reports that the robot can avoid obstacles to reach its owner and autonomously transport its owner.

The primary purpose of the second robot, referred to by Toyota as a "violin-playing robot," is to assist with domestic duties and nursing and medical care. It is equipped with 17 joints in its hands and arms, and can achieve "dexterous, human-like" hand movement and arm strength when playing the violin. Toyota will continue to work on the robot's hand and arm flexibility to make it able to use general purpose tools.

In addition to its latest introductions, Toyota has demonstrated various entertainment robots and a tour-guide robot that operates at its headquarters. The company says it aims to attain practical use of its partner robots in the early 2010s.

See Also

Popular Sponsored Recommendations

How to Build Zero-Cost On-Site Solar and Storage Projects

Nov. 25, 2023
The Inflation Reduction Act offers tax credits, incentives, and financing that enable no-cost projects. In Enel’s eBook, discover the critical role that incentives play in your...

Food and Beverage 2024 Trends and Outlook for North America

Oct. 29, 2023
Ready to hear what 200 of your peers said are the top challenges and opportunities in 2024? Don’t fall behind. Uncover actionable insights to better prepare for 2024 in this whitepaper...

You Cannot Stay Competitive by Bolting New Technologies to a Legacy ERP

Oct. 20, 2023
Read this white paper to understand the benefits of shifting to a next-generation ERP system as part of a DOP.

The Executive Guide to Best Practices for Ecommerce Integration

Oct. 2, 2023
Get ready to elevate your post-checkout experiences and thrive in today's unpredictable market. Learn why integration and automation are crucial to run operations more smoothly...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of IndustryWeek, create an account today!