asahi.com : Sony to breathe life into robots at new lab

Imagine a robot that can speak the lingo so well you’d be hard-pressed to distinguish it from the ramblings of a flesh-and-blood human being.

Now imagine it was only five years from now.

That’s one of the goals Sony Corp. will set out to achieve when it opens a laboratory in May or June to research next-generation robots.

“In five years’ time, we want to create a robot that is able to talk so smoothly that it cannot be discerned from human beings,” says Sony Executive Vice President Toshitada Doi, who sources say will head the tentatively named Life Dynamics Laboratory. Doi previously led the development of Sony’s robot dog Aibo.

Research is expected to transcend the robotics field to include brain science.

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Ananova – Toyota unveils trumpet-playing robot

A trumpet-playing robot has made its musical debut in Japan.

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:: Xinhuanet – English ::: Toyota to commercialize humanoid robot by 2010: report

TOKYO, March 11 (Xinhuanet) — Toyota Motor Corp. aims to commercialize humanoid robots around 2010 by establishing a section specializing in their development early next year, a major Japanese business daily reported Thursday.

The leading automaker will consolidate the resources of group companies and business partners to achieve the objective, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun said.

The section will be established within Toyota’s production technology headquarters and staffed with several hundred people, including robot engineers from the automaker’s technology headquarters and those from Toyota’s technology lab in Shizuoka Prefecture.

Toyota is currently developing a humanoid robot for the 2005 Aichi World Exposition at its production technology headquarters.

JCN Japan Corporate News Network – Toyota Announces Overview of “Toyota Partner Robot” – Robots to Be Unveiled at Expo 2005, Starting March 2005

Tokyo, Japan, Mar 11, 2004 – (JCN Newswire) – Toyota Motor Corporation (TSE: 7203; NYSE: TM) today announced an overview of the project to develop partner robots designed to function as personal assistants for humans.

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Overview of the Partner Robots

Walking —

– Applications: Assistance, elderly care

– Features: The walking model walks on two legs similar to a person, making it easy to become accustomed to. It is able to use its hands to carry out a wide variety of tasks.

– Height: 120 cm

– Weight: 35 kg

Rolling —

– Applications: Manufacturing, mobility

– Features: The rolling model zooms along quickly without taking up much space. It is able to use its hands to carry out a wide variety of tasks.

– Height: 100 cm

– Weight: 35 kg

Mountable —

– Applications: Elderly care, mobility

– Features: The mountable model is capable of carrying its passengers almost anywhere they need to go. It is fun to ride and operate.

– Height 120 cm 100 cm 180 cm

– Weight 35 kg 35 kg 75 kg

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Seattle Post-Intelligencer: AP – High-Tech

Japan co. unveils walking robot

Nuvo, a prototype of a human-shaped walking robot developed by a Tokyo-based ZMP, walks on the stage while showing its back during a press unveiling in Tokyo Tuesday, March 2, 2004. The 39-centimeter-tall (15-inch-tall) Nuvo walks on two legs, picks itself up when it falls, recognizes voice commands such as “advance” and “stop,” and relays images of its surroundings to a videophone from Japan’s top mobile carrier NTT DoCoMo. ZMP, which has so far only made robots for research and rental, said the new Nuvo model will be mass produced for sale at 500,000 yen (US$4,600) by the end of the year. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)

TOKYO — A Japanese company unveiled on Tuesday a prototype of a human-shaped walking robot it said will be mass produced for sale at $4,600 by the end of the year.

Tokyo-based ZMP, which has so far only made robots for research and rental, expects to sell about 3,000 of the new Nuvo model, which will be manufactured by another company. The manufacturer and sales network have not yet been decided, ZMP president Hisashi Taniguchi told reporters at a Tokyo hall.

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Digital Chosunilbo (English Edition) : Daily News in English About Korea: Local Venture Company Develops What’s Called Home Robot

Advances in technology are now seeking to add to the safety of life at home. A local venture company has developed the so-called home robot designed to keep house while no one’s home. The robot named ‘iRobi’ according to its maker, Yujin Robotics has a built-in sensor which enables it to move freely. It can also detect entries and gas leakage.

The latest development can also speak, sing, take photos and be used as an educational tool for children. ‘iRobi’ is expected to make its debut in local markets in April with a price tag of W4 million (US$3,000).

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The future of intelligent robots | CNET News.com

With the rovers Spirit and Opportunity sending messages from Mars and rekindling discussion about the future of U.S. space discovery programs, what is the state of the robotics industry in general?

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Japan Today Japan News – Japan’s Leading International News Network

Sony to stop selling AIBO robots at retailers

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Robots get friendly | csmonitor.com | Robots get friendly

Robots are acting more like people. Will our attachments eventually become too strong?

Later this month Valerie will go on duty behind the reception desk at Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Computer Sciences. Besides doling out information and directions, she’ll chat about her ever-changing personal life. If you introduce yourself, she’ll remember you. If you ask about the weather, when she meets you again she may bring up the subject.

Valerie, in case you haven’t guessed, is a robot – one in a long line of increasingly sophisticated machines. Of course, computers and their physical manifestations, robots, are already deeply embedded in our lives. In some sense, ATM machines, self-service gas pumps, and TiVo video recorders serve as rudimentary robots.

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newsobserver.com – Personal robots: Looking technology in the eye

(CSM) – In a decade or so, people may not have to tidy their house, clean up after the dog, or even nag their spouse to do chores. A friendly, human-like robot will take care of routine tasks, and it won’t whine or fight back.

If technologists’ predictions bear out, this second coming of robots could be more pervasive than the first in the ’60s, when industrial robots revolutionized manufacturing.

Designed to mimic the look and gestures of humans, the new breed of personal robots eventually may have artificial skin and muscles, as well as eye and facial expressions, and they might speak more naturally.

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