Toyota Motor Corp. has designs on making robot helpers for your home, and has enlisted a Japanese startup that specializes in artificial intelligence to kick off its plan.
According to the German news agency, Toyota has chosen Tokyo-based Preferred Networks to develop so-called service robots that are "capable of learning in typical living environments."
The Auto News website reported that the two firms have already been collaborating on driverless vehicles since 2014.
Eighty-year-old manufacturing giant Toyota is trying to transform itself and adapt to technology.
Toyota sees robots as part of that effort, particularly in Japan, where it aims to have them in homes and hospitals to support one of the world's fastest aging populations.
For the new project, Toyota said it would provide a dozen units of its new creation known as "Human Support Robot," in partnership with Preferred Networks. The companies will cooperate on development over the next three years, including the sharing of intellectual property.
Preferred Networks is already using the robot as a platform for its advanced artificial intelligence software.
At an exhibition in Tokyo last year the robot tidied a messy room, distinguishing between trash and dirty towels.
