GetRobo Blog English

Voice Authentication for Robots

Universal Robot Inc., a startup in Tokyo, has developed a voice authentication system for robots. The robot photographed below will only take verbal orders from the owner - or whoever is authorized to be the operator. The system can only understand Japanese at this time, but GetRobo thinks this type of technology will become extremely important now that robots are mobile and are being remotely operated (some even with cell phones). You do not want someone controlling your household robot from a remote location to use it to damage your home. And what about airports and other public locations?

The same with the autonomous vehicles now being developed through initiatives such as the DARPA Grand/Urban Challenges. A voice recognition system could help to prevent the robotic vehicles from being stolen and causing havoc. Well from that perspective, it could help the current car owners too, I guess.   

ROBO JAPAN coming in Oct. 2008

A big new robot exhibition is in the works according to freelance journalist Kazumichi Moriyama who covers the Japanese robotics scene extensively. According to a recent post on his blog, an event dubbed ROBO JAPAN is being scheduled in October of this year. ROBO JAPAN is positioned as the successor to ROBODEX which was held for 3 years before it's last trade show was organized in 2003.

Moriyama-san writes that the new exhibition was announced at the most recent humanoid battling ROBO-ONE competion. The next ROBO-ONE is planned to be held during and at ROBO JAPAN. He says that they weren't able to provide further information about the new exhibition at this time, and I couldn't find anything else about it on the web, but GetRobo will keep you posted.

Robots in Osaka

Osaka Prefecture has been promoting itself as the place to be for robotics companies. The most recent issue of its PR magazine BRAND-NEW OSAKA (in English) features some of the companies and researches going on there.

New Interface for Mobile Robots

Associate Professor Takafumi Matsumaru at the Bio-Robotics & Human-Mechatronics Lab at Shizuoka University has come up with a new way to control mobile robots. He is envisioning cases in which elderly people can use their walking sticks to guide their mobile companions or uses where manual input of commands are not possible. He calls it the "Step-On Interface (SOI)." A video is worth a thousand words.....

Dr. Matsumaru (shown left) spent 12 years at Toshiba developing robots before he joined the faculty at Shizuoka University.

Toilet Cleaning Robot Can Communicate With You

A group of engineering companies including Chinougijutsu Co. (Chinougijutsu means "intelligence technology" in Japanese) have developed a toilet cleaning robot for public restrooms. It is shaped like a ladybug and is called the "LADY BIRD." This one robot will be used on trial this year before 2,000 more are placed in restrooms along the highways throughout Japan in 2009.

LADY BIRD will be one solution for the facilities maintenance company that is facing an increasing problem in Japan where finding people to clean the public restrooms is becoming harder and harder.

LADY BIRD has a bit of wit and is meant to communicate with the people she meets. When I said "Ohayo-gozaimasu (Good Morning)" to her at the exhibition floor, she responded by saying "You know, it's almost noon." Yes indeed, it was 11:50am when I looked at my watch!