Photo: Toyota
You may have heard that Toyota will debut three new concept cars at this year’s Tokyo Motor Show. Traditionally, while some of the vehicles slated to go on display represent stunning new technologies, others seek to explore and strengthen “the emotional bond between car and driver.” This post is not about cars, though, it refers to their cute robot that will also be unveiled.
If robots are ever going to be anything else than scary machines using Artificial Intelligence to take over the planet and eradicate the human race, then this small fellow without a nose could be a good start. Don’t just develop human-like androids that can be smart and do the dirty stuff for us, and expect people to like them. Try to make them... well, human. If these contraptions look kind, we may eventually get used to the idea.
Kirobo Mini is a new compact-sized communication partner with the same heart that won the robot astronaut Kirobo legions of fans - Toyota tells us. Just the mere fact we are talking about a heart all of a sudden makes you relax and accept this thing into your Friday afternoon.
The Japanese automaker says they’ve created this little thing so that it accompanies its owners everywhere and communicate with them in a meaningful way. Other than a dog would regularly do, you mean? Precisely!
“Our aim is for Kirobo Mini to communicate with people through expressions and gestures, bringing smiles to their faces through daily exchanges that chart the course of an evolving relationship.”
Riiight. And what exactly does that stand for? Well, you could find out in person in about two weeks from now, if by any chance you’ll be in Tokyo by then. The 2015 Motor Show is held at Tokyo Big Sight and runs from October 28 through November 8.
P.S.: Kirobo Mini is 100 mm (3.9 inches) tall, 77 mm (3 inches) wide, 85 mm (3.3 inches) thick and weighs about 200 grams (7 ounces).
Kirobo Mini is a new compact-sized communication partner with the same heart that won the robot astronaut Kirobo legions of fans - Toyota tells us. Just the mere fact we are talking about a heart all of a sudden makes you relax and accept this thing into your Friday afternoon.
The Japanese automaker says they’ve created this little thing so that it accompanies its owners everywhere and communicate with them in a meaningful way. Other than a dog would regularly do, you mean? Precisely!
“Our aim is for Kirobo Mini to communicate with people through expressions and gestures, bringing smiles to their faces through daily exchanges that chart the course of an evolving relationship.”
Riiight. And what exactly does that stand for? Well, you could find out in person in about two weeks from now, if by any chance you’ll be in Tokyo by then. The 2015 Motor Show is held at Tokyo Big Sight and runs from October 28 through November 8.
P.S.: Kirobo Mini is 100 mm (3.9 inches) tall, 77 mm (3 inches) wide, 85 mm (3.3 inches) thick and weighs about 200 grams (7 ounces).
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