TOYOTA, Aichi -- A humanoid robot drove a car in a demonstration event held on Friday in Toyota, Aichi Prefecture. The Toyota city government and a University of Tokyo laboratory have been conducting research on developing a robot capable of driving a car. They developed a new robot named Musashi, which is about 1.6 meters tall and is able to move its fingers and toes. Cameras mounted in its eyes and sensors inside the body enable the robot to recognize its own posture and detect vibrations.
Those advanced features help Musashi drive in a manner closer to that of human beings, compared to previous robots. It is expected that the new technology will be utilized to develop prostheses for the disabled and driving assistance for the elderly, among other applications.
Musashi drove a small electric vehicle for about 20 meters at a nearly walking speed, steering the car smoothly. Visitors including students from a local elementary school were fascinated with the demonstration, especially when Musashi stopped the vehicle after recognizing a pedestrian crossing the road ahead.
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