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Toyota Demos 'Partner Robots'
angryflute writes "Toyota has created a walker robot that the driver sits in and controls. It's meant for handicapped people to get around with, but you can easily see the potential for this technology to become the basis for a real-world version of an AT-ST Scout Walker or mobile suit Gundam -- just add guns!" Gizmodo has some more pictures.
Aside from that, the assisted mobility thing is going to be a big, big market in the next couple of decades as the baby boomers start hitting the wall (assuming they aren't actually staring down an extra 900 years of life by then). While I seriously hope it won't look much like this given my natural fear of old people in silver spandex, I think we will see a lot of advancement in this field as the money shifts in that direction.
It's not just limited to mobility, either -- picture a recorder that is always working and allows you to privately review what just happened in your spare moments to aid memory? Heh, maybe you could even mark off when you've told a particular story to spare your loved ones the constant retelling...
Every year during my review, I just pray the words "slashdot.org" aren't mentioned.
>> Not only does their population have access to the latest and greatest technology That's because they make their tecnology for the benefit of their population. I find it ironic that while one slashdot article spoke of Japan making robots to help their elderly, another article a short while later spoke of the USA creating robots with guns to make the killing process more effecient. How do you know the US does not currently have a better class of robots than these already? Maybe there are, except maybe they are not being used for uncool things like helping elderly folks cross the road...
Toyota released a similar vehicle called PM at the Tokyo Auto show while back. I think Toyota is interested in these Personal Vehicles because in emerging markets like China or India, where population is very dense and poor, even small compact cars will be too large and too expensive. And considering how well the small SMART vehicles have done in Europe, I think they believe there is a market for a nimble vehicle sized between a motorcycle and a normal car. I would love to see them try!
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Mr Flibble writes:
A friend of mine, who ironically is a tanker in the military fully believes that robotech battlemechs will one day be a reality. Surprisingly, he does not realize that one of the advantages that a tank has is a low profile. Granted, it does not have legs to walk around with, so it a little less mobile. However, if you are dealing with insurgents who have RPG's, or even other tanks, having a high profile is BAD. Even if you had armor that was strong enough to withstand multiple hits, the sheer force of a hit would cause a mech to topple, or at the very least lose balance. While large mechs would be cool, they would be all to prone to getting blown up. Just giant walking targets. Now, smaller mechs, about the size of an Abrams would be mobile, and act as armor for troops would be more practical than building size robots - but Giant Mechs? Not likely. (All the above is assuming you over come all the other physical limits such as structural stress etc...)
I think this view is a bit narrow. Battle mech-style exosuits would be more of a "bridging the gap between infantry mobility and heavy armor's offensive ability" thing.
Suppose you had a mech that only allowed for a 2x profile of a human but could increase their firepower by 2x, increase their ability to take fire by 6x and let them travel 3x faster.
These things are always compromises. It may very well be that a modern Abrams is more-or-less the pinnacle of current "heavy armor," but that doesn't mean there isn't a middle ground that can be covered.
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Limekiller