Toyota Plans Human-Assistance Robot
From: PC World's Daily Technology News - 12/06/2007
By: Martyn Williams

Toyota unveiled two new robots - including one that plays the violin - and
plans to develop a human-assistance robot early in the next decade. 

Read the entire article at:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,140341/article.html?tk=nl_dnxnws

Links:
Toyota presents the robots of the future!
http://www.akihabaranews.com/en/news-15216-Toyota+presents+the+robots+of+the+future!.html

Toyota premieres violin-playing robot
http://www.macworld.co.uk/digitallifestyle/news/index.cfm?newsid=19864&pagtype=allchandate

Toyota shows new violin-playing robot, says robotics will become one of its key businesses
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/12/06/business/AS-TEC-Japan-Toyota-Robots.php

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Toyota Aims to Put Robots to Use Early Next Decade
From: Reuters - 12/06/2007
By: Chang-Ran Kin

Toyota Motor recently announced that it plans to deploy humanoid and other
advanced robots for practical use in factories, hospitals, homes, and public
areas soon after 2010. Along with the unveiling of two new robots, one called
the "mobility robot" and the other the "violin-playing robot," Toyota
announced that it would increase its research and development effort in
robotics, including doubling the number of engineers to about 200 in about
three years and building a robot technology research facility next year.
"Over the next two to three years, we will put the robots to the test through
trial applications and see what kind of business possibilities they present,"
says Toyota President Katsuaki Watanabe. The violin robot currently has 17
joints in both of its hands and arms, but Toyota plans on further advancing
the robot's dexterity and flexibility to make it better able to assist with
household chores. The mobility robot, which looks like a bulky high-chair on
wheels, is designed to help people with short-distance transport, and is
essentially an intelligent wheelchair that can travel on uneven ground and
around obstacles. Toyota envisions a "Partner Robot" that could help with
domestic duties, nursing and medical care, manufacturing, and short-distance
personal transport. 

Read the entire article at:
http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?type=motoringSummary&storyID=2007-12-06T110425Z_01_ORM639791_RTRUKOC_0_TOYOTA-ROBOTS.xml