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February 2, 2005
Robot Rock 'n' Roll
Several hundred students and faculty, many with kids in tow, packed into an auditorium of the CMU University Center yesterday morning to see a half-hour Qrio demonstration. In addition to tai chi routines and several dances, Qrio also showed that it could find and kick a ball, recognize faces, and, if pushed over, get back up on its feet without assistance.
Byron Spice, "Sony's hip-shaking 'Qrio' gyrates for CMU students, faculty," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Saturday, January 29, 2005
"Sony is among several Japanese companies, including Honda and Kawada Industries, that are developing humanoid robots. This is in marked contrast to the United States and Europe, where robotics development has focused on adding autonomy to vehicles, aircraft and appliances rather than on building legged robots.
"One reason for the difference, Hideki Komiyama [president and chief operating officer of Sony Electronics[ said, is simply that "the Japanese people like this type of thing." But humanoid robots, which combine sophisticated mechanics, software and sensors, also push several types of technology, elements of which end up in other Sony products, such as Playstations.
"Humanoid robots themselves could eventually become products, he said, perhaps serving as household aides in an increasingly aged Japanese society or simply acting as companions.
Posted by sjc at February 2, 2005 5:54 PM
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