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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.
Robots this cool and bizarre could only come from Japan. Normally, I am a fan of form following function, but am reminded in these robots of everything cool about design from a Japanese ethic. Their principal application of providing the handicapped with greater mobility is one that we are familiar with in our lab. One of our fellows is in a wheelchair (polio) and sometimes accessibility is still a problem for him, particularly obtaining things that are above his reach. Certainly the Segway folks have worked in this area before, but their form absolutely followed function and had very little of the design sensibility of Toyotas products. I also can find almost nothing on their site about products for the handicapped anymore. What happened? Has Segway abandoned all their accessibility products in favor of the HT?
Also, I imagine that since the US Army has an overriding interest in enhancing personal mobility, that they too will be paying Toyota a visit.
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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.
DO you have to wear the quasi-futuristic suits to make it work? Handicapped people still have dignity you know.
In order to push bread down their throats.
Do you have stairs in your house?
In the future, I would want to not be isolated from my friends in the Space Station.
That phrase has never caused anything bad to happen.
First couple things I thought of when I saw the conceptual ad:
1. wtf?
2. Seriously, wtf?
3. A new Power Rangers design?
4. Cheap Peyote hits Tokyo?
5. Does it come in "Confederate Flag" with a gunrack?
and now back to the fallout shelter...
bigger doors.
Didn't RTFA, just looked at the pix.
But, if these things are to be practical for "handicapped" people, buildings will need MUCH bigger doors, wider aisles between office cubicles, wider hallways in homes, and higher ceilings in many places -- not to mention bigger cargo doors in personal vans, etc.
The other robotic device would need to run on the street because it looks 50% larger than our current electric wheelchairs and is about as long as motorcycle. I mean sure they look cool and sound great. But when you consider its practical applications, especially in Japan, it's just rediculous.
And WTF is up with that chick dressed up in the white latex suit?!? I mean really...WTF?!?
...and they've gone wrong!
Jory
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...)
Mech wheelchairs are a good idea however.
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