A Robot Carries Humans, Another One Plays Flute

Roland Piquepaille writes "The New Scientist says that a robot able to carry humans was demonstrated in Tokyo. The robot, developed at Waseda University in Tokyo and the Japanese robotics company tmsuk, 'uses 12 actuators to move forwards, backwards and sideways while carrying an adult weighing up to 60 kilograms (130 pounds).' It will be used 'in the fields of welfare, as an alternative to wheelchairs, which can go up and down stairs.' The Takanishi Laboratory carries other projects, including a flutist robot. More details and references are contained in this overview, which also includes a picture of the flutist robot in concert."

Comments

I am the pusher robot

[Anonymous Coward]

I push people down the stairs.

I am the shover robot - I shove people down the stairs

Get in and out of bed

[hermango]

What is needed is a robot that will help disabled people get in and out of bed. My aunt has a disabled child who is wheelchair bound and needs help getting in and out of bed. So when they get an all-purpose walking/moving/assisting robot that will do those tasks, then they'll have something with a BIG market!

Oh Oh, You Know Where This is Going?

[Greyfox]

Pretty soon they'll be wanting voting rights and they'll be forming unions. Then Ford will have to outsource their car manufacturing overseas where the robots work for less and aren't held to the same stringent emissions standards we have here. It's just a downward spiral from here, folks...

alternate pic

[binarybum]

A better image is available here.