Toyota announces 2 new robots

Toyota announced on Dec. 6th two new robots as well as the grand scheme on where it's heading in the development of what it calls the "Partner Robots."

One is the Mobility Robot which is meant for moving people/things from one place to another. It can move at 6km/hour and continue going for about 20km after charging the battery for an hour. It can also climb a 10 degree slope and  avoid obstacles.

The Mobility Robot is 1 meter high when boarding and 1.1 meter when moving. It weighs 150 kg.

The second is the Violin Robot which is 1.5 meter tall and weighs 56 kg. This robot can play the violin skillfully with its 17 joints on both arms and hands, according to Asahi. The goal is to make this robot capable enough to assist with household chores.

According to Nikkei, Toyota will embark on trials utilizing these robots at hospitals and recreational facilities that are operated by its group companies starting next year. Also Toyota is planning to double the number of researchers working on the Partner Robots to about 200 within 3 years. The company's robotics researchers are currently scattered in 3 locations but will be consolidated into a new R&D center in Toyoda City that will open by spring of 2009.

What is most interesting to me is the fact that Toyota seems to be very open about the kinds of robots it is working on and when it plans to deliver them. This is a very different philosophy compared to Honda which is super secretive about where it is heading with the ASIMO.