Where Innovation Meets Imagination
Toyota has launched a tiny robot small enough to fit into the palm of your hand.
The KiRobo Mini is clearly the company’s way of taking a break from making cars, and is now on sale in Japan.
According to Nikkei, the little robot “can talk, learn, and serve up information on your car and home”. [Read more…] about Toyota launches tiny humanoid robot that fits into the palm of your hand
Company says new robot is enabled through advanced torque servo module and master maneuvering system
Toyota has revealed the third generation of its humanoid robot, the T-HR3, designed and developed by its Partner Robot business unit.
The company’s aim seems to be to market the robot for use in the home, perhaps for elderly care or companionship, but says it can also be applied in industrial sectors such as healthcare, construction and disaster recovery. (See video below.)
Toyota says its latest robotics platform will explore new technologies for safely managing physical interactions between robots and their surroundings, and it features a new remote maneuvering system that mirrors user movements to the robot.
Toyota says the T-HR3 reflects the company’s broad-based exploration of how advanced technologies can help to meet people’s unique mobility needs. [Read more…] about Toyota unveils its third-generation humanoid robot T-HR3
Toyota is to build hybrid powertrains at plants in the US for the first time.
The company claims it has “just upped the stakes” to remain the top manufacturer of hybrid vehicles worldwide.
Its investment in the US will total $373.8 million, spread across five US manufacturing plants. [Read more…] about Toyota investing $400 million to manufacture hybrid powertrain in the US
Toyota Research Institute has been demonstrating its progress in the development of automated driving technology and other project work to the investor community this week.
Dr Gill Pratt, CEO of TRI, says: “In the last few months, we have rapidly accelerated our pace in advancing Toyota’s automated driving capabilities with a vision of saving lives, expanding access to mobility, and making driving more fun and convenient.
“Our research teams have also been evolving machine intelligence that can support further development of robots for in-home support of people.” [Read more…] about Toyota shows off its progress in robotics, autonomous cars and artificial intelligence
Denso, the main supplier of automotive components to Toyota, is part of a new consortium which will develop infrastructure for driving data.
As well as Denso, other companies in the consortium are Ericsson, Intel, NTT, NTT Docomo, Toyota InfoTechnology, and Toyota Motor.
Together, the companies have initiated the formation of the Automotive Edge Computing Consortium. [Read more…] about Denso creates consortium for network and computing infrastructure of automotive big data
The market for electric cars in China is huge already and it’s growing at almost an exponential rate annually.
Commentators in the country include electric cars in the category called “new energy vehicles”, which also refers to hybrid energy vehicles, and are saying the market will be further accelerated as a result of government backing.
Edward Tse, CEO of Gao Feng management consultancy, says: “With the issuance in April 2017 of the Automotive Industry Mid to Long Term Development Plan, the Ministry for Industry and Information Technology provides guiding principles for the development of China’s auto industry for the next decade. [Read more…] about China’s electric car market given a jump-start by government and looks set to boost lithium industry
Boston has become one of the main centres for robotics technologies in recent years, with many well-known companies emerging from the area.
Perhaps with this in mind, the Toyota Research Institute decided to showcase its latest developments in autonomous vehicle technology, something it’s calling “Platform 2.0” – basically, its new driverless car – to attendees at the Robotics: Science and Systems conference at MIT.
“This is the first time that we are showing the car off to the Boston-area robotics community,” said a spokesman for TRI. “This new advanced safety research vehicle is the first autonomous testing platform developed entirely by TRI, and reflects the rapid progress of our autonomous driving program.” [Read more…] about Toyota showcases its new advanced autonomous car platform to Boston robotics community
Toyota has been demonstrating what it calls its “Human Support Robot”, a type of robot which looks likely to take over millions of homes all over the world in the next few years.
The market for this type of so-called personal assistance robot is forecast to grow very quickly over the next few years because of advances in the technology.
According to analysts at ResearchAndMarkets.com, the personal robotics market will grow by almost 40 per cent within the next five years to a total size of $34 billion. [Read more…] about Toyota demonstrates ‘human service robot’ of a type that may take over a lot of homes
NTT is working with Toyota to develop a global telecommunications platform for connected cars.
Toyota is one of the largest automakers in the world, while NTT is one of the largest telecommunications companies in the world.
The new partnership will see both companies sharing relevant technologies, knowledge and expertise to create a connected car platform. [Read more…] about NTT to develop global platform for Toyota connected vehicles
US President Donald Trump is set to announce “within the next few months” new regulations that will eliminate the barriers to autonomous cars on the roads, according to a report on Reuters.
The current transportation secretary, Elaine Chao, acknowledged that automakers have been calling for rule changes which will give them more freedom to test and develop autonomous cars.
Chao says: “The pressure is mounting for the federal government to do something. We don’t want rules that impede future technological advances.” [Read more…] about US government set to change driverless vehicle regulations under pressure from automakers
