Toyota Announces Partner Robots

Jenny McLaneRobot" enable its robots to play musical instruments.
An overview of the project to develop partner robotsToyota developed artificial lips that move with the
designed to function as personal assistants for humanssame finesse as human lips, which, together with
is being carried out by Toyota for its corporaterobots' hands, enables the robots to play trumpets like
activities based on the spirit of "contributing to societyhumans do.
through making things and making automobiles."Toyota came up with the new stabilizing technologies
Toyota is promoting the development offor robots as it has Mobility control technology through
human-assisting partner robots using the collectivethe expanded development of the driving control
experience cultivated by the Toyota Group intechnologies for automobiles. A small, lightweight and
automotive development and production engineering.low-cost high precision sensors, developed based upon
In response to Japan's rapidly aging population andautomotive sensor technology, is used as an attitude
dwindling birth rates Toyota starts to develop robots insensor that detects a tilt of a robot.
a need to secure a stable labor force for the future inWire-operation system is also being developed. The
order for its people to be able to enjoy comfortableactuators as power sources are located on its torso,
standards of living. This is also true around the globeand wires are used to move the arms and legs. The
as people crave for better, more diversified lifestyles.weight of the arms and legs can be reduced, adding
Possessing human characteristics, Toyota's partnerlimberness and speed to the motion.
robots are agile, warm and kind and also intelligentToyota's announcement of the development of
enough to skillfully operate a variety of devices in thepartner robots is followed by an exhibition of the
areas of personal assistance care for the elderly,results as part of the entertainment lineup for the
manufacturing, and mobility.Toyota Group Pavilion at the Expo 2005, Aichi, Japan.
Since each area requires a special set of skills, ToyotaToyota plans to continue focusing the energy of the
is focusing on the development of three differentToyota Group to further utilize their wealth of technical
types of partner robots (walking, rolling, and mountable),experience in automotive development and production
each with its own areas of expertise.to expand the usefulness of these robots while
Advanced technology used in the "Toyota Partnerbroadening their functions and areas of application.