Robot makers in Japan are obviously not content with their creations playing musical instruments and reading out the weather forecast, as Murata Manufacturing has now produced an Armstrong-esque automaton.
Little Murata Seisaku-kun (or Murata Boy) is only 50-cm-tall, but with the use of sensors he can remain perfectly balanced — even when stationary. His stability skillfully demonstrated at the CEATEC Japan 2005 exhibition, with the diminutive chap cycling on a 2-cm-wide balance beam. All this whilst rattling along at a heart fluttering 60 cm per second too.
Yet as impressive as this is, if Murata Boy is going to survive in Japan, there’s one more feat of balance and dexterity he’ll need to master — the age-old practice of cycling whilst using an umbrella.
Only then will the young fella have truly earned his stripes.
IvanG says
I’ve never understood why Japan has such a huge ‘useless novelty robot’ industry. Is there really such a huge market for little men on little bikes over there? Where’s the market for these things? What’s the utility?
Lee says
I know what you mean Ivan, but it has supposedly been designed to highlight the use of sensor technology.
Silent Scream says
Maybe one day, “paper-robots” will replace paperboys/girls…
There’s no harm in trying to develop new kinds of robots!
Silent Scream says
Sorry to double comment … but make that “Waterproof Paperbots”, no need for the umbrella then 😉
Owen says
Wait until you see the robotic construction workers. Normally, they pay some old guy to wave a red baton warding off the traffic (i.e. doing the job of a well-lit sign)… but now, they have started to use cardboard cut-outs with mechanised arms. I have to try hard not to laugh every time I see them.
Retro Bicycles says
Give me an old cool bicycle, and I’ll ride around the city for days.