Kitano Lab building "toddling" robot
Kitano Lab building "toddling" robot
Keywords: Robots, Walking
A research team calling itself ERATO Kitano Symbiotics Systems Project,primarily funded by the Government's Japan Science & Technology Corp., has developed a robot the size of a one-year old child capable of toddling about on its own two feet. Sensors on the soles of the feet locate the center of gravity and, besides, the robot can also wave its hands and arms. Its gait is somewhat wobbly but the team leader says work is "in progress to improve the technology required." It had hoped to be available by the time of the International Robots Soccer Tournament in 2002, but it is more likely to be ready a bit too late for contention, towards the end of 2002.
The robot stands some 70cm tall and measures 30cm wide and 10cm thick, being based on the measurements of a male child aged between ten and 12 months. It only weighs 4.5kgs, but this is looked upon as being what was sought originally,to make the device as light as possible. The toddler has some 26 joints, can identify the three colours of red, blue and yellow, and can calculate distances.
Designed by a well-known technician, Professor Tatsuya Matsui, an independent in the field, it has been named "Pino," after Pinocchio. The designer,however, regards his work as "still unfinished." He has been working,and is continuing to do so, with the Kitano Symbiotic Systems Project, and its senior research technician, Hiroaki Kitano, who is also a senior research director at Sony Computer Science Laboratories, which has long had strong government connections and financing.
