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Toyota's Trumpet Playing Robot Showcased
fsharp writes "The New York Times has an article discussing the first public showing of Toyota's new humanoid robot. During a demonstration, the biped robot played trumpet together with a rolling robot. Most telling about the article was the whole philosophy towards R&D: 'Toyota acknowledges that it is unlikely to turn a profit building robots anytime soon, but the program highlights its engineering-oriented culture and willingness to invest in projects that may not pay off for decades.' How many companies these days are willing to drop money into some technology that may not turn a profit for many years?"
It pisses me off that no American company today would ever do something like this. Our leaders have sold our technological infrastructure out for quick $$$. The boobs may have T-shirts -- made in China, no doubt -- that say "America is #1", but it hasn't been for a long time. Japan and the other Asian countries do all the cool stuff now. Come on, could you see Ford or GM doing this?
...it's called R&D. What won't make money today, will be "necessity" tomorrow, and then that's when you get people to pay.
Furthermore, even if the technology itself doesn't automatically pan out (ie, humanoid robots), it may still have profitable applications in other areas (ie, prosthetics).
libertarianswag.com
http://cooltech.iafrica.com/technews/309033.htm
When are the goddamn SexBots going to be released?! My lifeless real doll ain't cutting it!
"How many companies these days are willing to drop money into some technology that may not turn a profit for many years?"
The kind that is already doing very well financially and wants to solidify a reputation of innovation. Similar to Microsoft's $1 billion donation to Africa.
Presenters of the music-playing machine found themselves being unmercifully heckled by a man calling himself Mssr. Jacques de Vaucanson, who proclaimed loudly that he had accomplished robotic music more than two hundred years prior to this demonstration.
When the presenters pointed out that Mssr. Vaucanson would have to be long dead as of this late date, the suddenly horrified heckler collapsed into a pile of dust, and the remainder of the presentation was conducted without further interruption.
You are in error. No-one is screaming. Thank you for your cooperation.
Registration free link
I wish article authors would at least put up some effort to find and use reg-free links when possible.
Why not invest in the technology now? In a few years someone will say, "Hey do you remember that thing we did a few years ago? Well i got a new idea for it" Its far easier to create something out of something than trying to create it out of nothing. Look at Big Billy. He created an empire out of a program Xerox was about to discard. A robot that can play music is one step closer to creating a robot that can do abstraction. Imagine the possiblities...not to mention the future military application....::strokes chin::
How about most drug companies.
...dear god, think of the possibilities. A robot with the ability to play a trumpet constantly...endlessly. The annoyance will be legendary.
Kids these days. They don't know the difference between classic, and just plain old.
I for one can see several applications that might directly appeal to this crowd.
Good News! Toyota announces a robot that can play the trumpet!
Still working on the cure for the common cold, world peace, and an end to poverty.
--Guns don't kill people, abortion clinics kill people.
Heres a link to the BBC article.
Hi there
In addition to Toyota's trumpet player, both Sony and Honda have developed robots that run/dance/etc., that they have no hope of immediately recooping the expenses on. And look at the DARPA Grand Challenge that happened this weekend, several of the teams were run directly or indirectly through tech companies (and you can be sure they weren't in it for the $1M). Even the non-corporate teams received tons of donations of equipment, sensors, vehicles, etc to support the crazy dream of driverless car in the desert.
I am a trumpet player and I really want to hear this thing!
Imagine if typing was so challenging that you spent 90% of your computer time refining and keeping your typing skills adequate, so you could spend 10% of the time programming...
Anyone have any sound clips?
Spoon not. Fork, or fork not. There is no spoon.
See it walk here
"How many companies these days are willing to drop money into some technology that may not turn a profit for many years?" Check out the MIT Media Lab's list of sponsors: http://www.media.mit.edu/sponsors/sponsors.html Many of these companies have been giving money for years. All so crazy grad students (and profs) can go out and try the "what-ifs" without the companies worrying about reputations being on the line. ;)
Welcome our new, jazzier, robot overlords....
(sorry someone had to)
Please send all UCE to scally@devolution.com so I can f
Drug companies invest hundreds of millions into researching new medications that may never make it to market. The ones that do take years to research and develop, then they spend many more years testing and then they have to wait for FDA approval.
U.S. auto makers have been testing and developing electric cars for decades. None have ever made a profit from them.
Millions were spent by our government and by companies in researching some far out idea to network computers across the country. That took decades to start paying off.
There are more, but I'll let you post them...
It would behoove many companies to invest more in R&D and less in padding executives pocketbooks with $100's. HP, for example, has gutted their engineering ranks while simultaneously buying jets for the higher-ups. Closer to my region of the country, Caterpillar has outsourced waves of R&D people...and their executives are getting ever-higher bonuses.
If not, no deal.
sulli
RTFJ.
welcome our new musical android overlords.
sig under development
> How many companies these days are willing to drop money into some technology that may not turn a profit for many years?"
Aerospace, for one. Working at one of the companies that makes commercial (and military) aircraft engines, it is jokingly quoted that: "A decision to launch a new engine program is a calculated risk to go into the hole for about 20 years" (Meaning it takes about that long to "turn profit" off all the years of design, development, testing, and certication processes.) Imagine how many times the market flops around responding to other market pressures in that length of time.
As an interesting aside for many of you, aircraft engines have historically been sold on the razor/blades business model, so its an interesting business balance between a quality engine that airline customers will buy and the need to sell spares to eventually make money on FAR down the road.
"This one time, at band camp... I got a BJ from a trumpet playing robot!"
sorry...
Check out the best P2P sharing website: MEDIACHEST.COM
Seriously. Why are these things coming out of automotive companies? First Honda and now Toyota. What do they plan to do with these technologies? Spin off a company to manufacture and market them? License the intellecual property? They certainly aren't dumping money into these projects for the fun of it. Technology for technology's sake exists only on university campuses and hobbiest garages.
How many companies these days are willing to drop money into some technology that may not turn a profit for many years?
Judging from the Windows market share, I'd say a lot.
How many companies these days are willing to drop money into some technology that may not turn a profit for many years?
IBM for example, holds the record for the last few years in patents. They made a processor where atoms funtion as transistors, the smallest form ever. Will they use this in the next 10 years? maybe, but probably not. But when it is used, they will make a lot of money on it and be consulted 1rst most likely.
There's one problem with this story: the author doesn't give any evidence that this is a real robot. A robot, by definition, can perform tasks autonomously. This machine was probably programmed to go out on stage and start blowing into the trumpet. Likewise, it doesn't "play" the trumpet. It merely pushes air into the trumpet according to what the code tells it to do. The day that Toyota designs a machine that hits a wrong note is the day that it built a real robot.
IBM is a US company, who has invested billions into technology that is not in use. They were the 1rst company to arrange individual atoms (spelling IBM). They made a processor that uses atoms as transistors. They don't use any of it in production, but probably will some day. I think that you underestimate many US companies with your statement.
As I recall, the US Army was suffering from a shortage of bugle players to play taps for the passing generation of soldiers. They developed a digital bugle that can play taps even if the bugler is incompetent, drunk, or both.
Since Toyota has now developed a vastly more complicated technology that can be used to solve the same problem as the slightly complicated one above, I look forward to future Pentagon procurement hearings.
Note to self: Sarcasm in this post often results in massive retribution.
I still think Asimo serv3s (hehe) that thing. Both are completely useless, but at least Asimo can wave when you throw him a newspaper.
hi
On other news.. I, Robot trailer is now finally available.. Coincidence? I think not.
http://dtum.livejournal.com
It seems that almost everytime there is a message here about a new robot coming from Japan, the feature list includes some kind of dancing/singing. Anybody knows why?
Boggles my mind :-)
Okay... I'll do the stupid things first, then you shy people follow.
[Zappa]
Private ones.
Never go public.
Each robot uses a Pentium III processor as the main CPU along with a Real Time Linux OS. NEC supplied a customized lithium ion battery, which powers the biped robot for about 30 minutes.
I read this and couldn't help thinking about something from Harry Turtledove's Worldwar series. In it, the Earth is invaded by a race of aliens who are accustomed to thinking in terms of millenia, with every undertaking planned generations in advance. The stories mention a formal, court-martial offense whose title translates into English as "Lack of Foresight."
While I do not advocate the stratified, stagnant mentality that Turtledove's invaders, I have to wonder if dragging a few U.S. CEOs in front of a tribunal on charges of "Lack of Foresight" might not be a good idea for American business.
(And, no, passive, placid boards to not count as a "tirbunal" here)
"Prepare for the worst - hope for the best."
First blue collar workers in manufacturing where replaced by robots, then white collar and IT workers were/are replaced by cheap labor (and i'm sure companies would be more than happy to replace 30 programmers @ $2/hr with a machine).
Next thing you know street performers (who used to work in a factory or office) will be....well, ok they'll still on the street but you get the idea.
And now we have a trumpet playing robot...
Oh, I see, I get it - here's the secret evil Japanese plan to take over the world - they're going to create a robotic marching band!
Honda's AISMO robots can conduct music. See these two articles: #1, #2 , and #3 (registration required). It played Beethoven's Fifth Symphony to the public). I would like to see Toyota's trumpet players in the next concert!
:(
BTW, does anyone have video clips of AISMO conducting? I cannot find any.
Ant(Dude) @ Quality Foraged Links (AQFL.net) & The Ant Farm (antfarm.ma.cx / antfarm.home.dhs.org).
Toyota's robot site is here. It has movies of the robot. Evidently, they won't put out one with the sound because of copyright issues. I was really interested to hear it play, since I play the trumpet myself.
GF.
Lots of petrified grits
Those that want to still be in existence in many years.
They'll be ready to deploy when the time is right; the others will have to play catchup and most likely decline (or whine about how unfair it is).
Great minds think alike; fools seldom differ.
The prestige that comes from this sort of accomplishment is important for marketing - especially in Japan. As a bonus, they get advances that may make their way into production vehicles. They also attract better caliber engineers by maintaining a reputation as an industry leader.
Let's not stir that bag of worms...
I'm waiting for the robot that will expose its breast plate during the Supahbowl.
On the subject of so-called foreign cars:
Firstly, import taxes in general have been greatly reduced since the 80's when foreign cars were first becoming popular in the US. Secondly, an increasing proportion of so-called "foreign cars" are being manufactured within in US (or at least North America). Thirdly, an increasing number of "domestic" cars and parts are being manufactured outside of North America. All of this is due to the increasing globalization and reduction of tariffs in all directions.
On the subject of Mexico:
Firstly, the minimum wage in Mexico is 43.65 Pesos, or just under $4. Not exactly 60 cents. Secondly, Mexico and the US are part of the North American Free Trade Agreement, which means they have unlimited tariff-free trade (with a few exceptions).
Finally, on the subject of Free Trade:
Contrary to popular beliefe, Free Trade does not make all people poor. Free Trade merely knocks down artifical price barriers on goods and services sold. This means that products will be available at their fair price. This can be a signifigant change if these barriers previously existed. Whenever there is a major change, there will be temporary (structural) unemployment. This is the same as the introduction of any new technology, such as computers, the assembly line model, or the internet. Over time, due to market forces, prices will stabalize and the playing field will be level again.
Unless of course, you choose to not adapt to the new system.
The Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago is another example of Toyota investing money in basic research (in this instance, computer science). The institute employs a number of full-time permanent research faculty, supported by a $100 million endowment.
More to the point - how many engineers would be prepared to drop an arm and a leg to be given a lab and budget like that and told "build something cool, but it doesnt have to be a finishd product".
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First it was Honda and their dancing robot. How cute.
Next it's Toyota and a trumpet playing robot. Amazing!
Do you notice a trend with these auto companies creating more and more sophisticated robots to one-up the competition?
How long before Honda unveils their Asimo complete with a 120mm M829 Armor Piercing, Fin Stabilized, Discarding Sabot-Tracer Depleted Uranium cannon?
Will Toyota fire back with their trumpet playing metalstorm wielding automation?
Investing in projects like this almost always pay off in the long run. Problem in the U.S. is that around 90% of business in the U.S. is considered small business, and most of the large businesses in the U.S. grew out of a small business. Unfortunatly the mentality of most small business owners and CEOs is to look for profit in the short term and spend more time looking at the accounting side of things instead of the economic side of things.
There are still though plenty of large companies in the U.S. that invest alot of money into R&D (IBM) but patients among americans is severly lacking these days and most people, including business owners have the "I want it now" philosophy.
On an off note I read somewhere that the pay ratio between a company CEO and their lowest paid employee in the U.S. averages 400 to 1 versus 100 to 1 in countries like Japan.
"Willing" isn't enough. Too many companies don't make adequate plans for preserving the technologies which they develop for the urgent needs of today's market. Four years from now, half the team is gone and nobody knows what happened to the source code archive much less any design documents.
A company has to first have a strategy for conserving the technologies they develop, as they are developed, before developing anything which may not be marketable for five or ten years. They'd also have to slow down their employee turn-over rate.
there was this documentary on BBC this weekend. they argued that the British Kingdom became an empire because it had to fight with an evil French despotic monarchy.
Britain was an parliamentary monarchy at that time. The purpose of the parliament is to restraint the ruler from fighting unjust wars for personal grandeur and glory. This always means higher taxes and merchants just hate that idea.
The colonies in America have been surrounded by french forts on the Missisippi and in Quebec. This meant that they could possibly fall under the rule of France. The 7-years war was fought to prevent that danger. So, at that time Britain was only protecting it's people from an encirclement by a tyrannic, undemocratic regime. the costs at that time were twice their yearly income. they had to tax the protected somehow. 30 years later the settlers did not want to pay for the protection any more.
In India the French caused the problems again. There was already an monarchy in India, the Moguls (sp?). the British had only a trade settlement in India, no troops. they were buying Indian high-tech carpets in exchange for british silver.The French toppled the legitimate ruler and put an puppet in his place. this would not be as bad if the new monarch hadn't ruled all trade with the brits illegal. so now, they had to bring in troops topple the french puppet and install somebody new. after that someone had to administer the terrain, colect taxes and here you go, you have got an occupation and bureaucracy (CPA?).
Only later had the French people started their own revolution because they didn't want to pay the taxes for the military adventures of their king.
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shareholder value is all about short term profits. it is the financial religion of the nineties. future profits are discounted at a quickly diminishing rate. that means that long term projects (over 10 years? ) are deemed unprofitable unless they promise gigantic future cash flow. the risk factor is also important.
in the short term it might be less risky to throw some marketing cash at an old product or visually redesign it (buy our new thingy! now, it's red!) than to spend your precious cash on something unknown.
OTOH, Intel is investing A LOT in R&D. but they get their cash back in, let's say, 5 years and have steady demand. we could take a look at their roadmaps from the past and measure the time from the lab to the market.
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Japan's military budget is huge, but it's so oriented toward providing jobs for key voters and corporate welfare that it makes the US look like a lean mean efficiency machine by comparison. Of that huge defence budget, less than half goes on things with any direct connection to actual fighting -- and even what is spent on maintaining combat units is mainly a matter of keeping Japanese people out of the unemployment office at high (ie Japanese) wages.
Really, military spending is not the same as budget figures. It would be better to say that Japan chooses to route more of its corporate welfare through the defence area than the UK does, and that it cares more about keeping people with no useful skills employed than the US does.
Whence? Hence. Whither? Thither.