Toyota unveils violin-playing, personal transport robots
By Darren Murph 
posted December 6th 2007 10:09AM
posted December 6th 2007 10:09AM
[Via Yahoo / Reuters]
posted December 6th 2007 10:09AM
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I like the fact the despite the shiny white robot, they still seem to have an antique violin rather than a shiny white electric one al la Vanessa Mae!!
Opposites attract...and that definitely applies to Vanessa Mae!
I'm glad to know that our robotic overlords will not only be musicaly inclined but, they will be able to easily cart away our dead bodies.
Flashpoint, I for one welcome our violin playing, dead body toting Toyota overlords.
It will run many many years on it's atomic slug.
It will also tell you your horoscope, sai.
Thanks Lamerk Industries and North Central Positronics!
It's good that they finally came up with a way for an electronic device to reproduce music, and in a perfectly sensible and uncomplicated manner.
Reminds me of something I saw in the music section of the Munich Museum (well worth a visit by the way).
It was a (still functioning) barrel organ which, as well as the organ, had three violins strapped to it along with mechanical fingers and bowing arms. Surprisingly enough it didn't actually sound too bad, although obviously its tonal range was severely limited.
Can't you just pick up 3 or 4 violinists off the street begging for coins these days? For a few dollars you could dress one up in a cardboard and aluminum foil suit and parade them around the local retirement home.
Professor Xavier is going to be so happy when he sees this.
Could the violin playing robot be more for well....I don't know..unless it's actually playing a violin to showcase some very agile fingerwork for a robot, I'm just clueless.
However the wheelchair robot hybrid I think should be quite appreciated in the near future when things like this become more readily available. This world has come to such a point on reliance of electronics for convenience, we are becoming more lazy. I still like to use my legs to walk and jog and run, but I know millions of people would rather just sit and go.
Am I the only disappointed that it is not a robot who can play the violin and then transform into a personal transport vehicle? After a quick read of the title and a glance at the two pictures I was wondering how the transformation process would look.
Also the violin-playing thing might make more sense that way. Drive grandpa from bed to living room, unload, entertain said grandpa with violin play, transform back into transport mode, deliver said grandpa to nearest feeding facility.
A robot that plays music? What, you mean like an MP3 player on legs?
Flashpoint, I for one welcome our violin playing, dead body toting Toyota overlords.
Ever notice the similarities between a violin and a semiautomatic submachine gun or plasma rifle?
Neither did I, until now...
[QUOTE]We can't say we totally understand the reason for unveiling a violin-playing robot alongside one that assists in personal mobility[/QUOTE]
Simple, he was looking to take his show on the road! Ha Ha! Honk! Honk!
F' Jackie.
I've seen Honda's ASIMO in person. It is really quite amazing how well it seems to work. The big problem is that is it can only operate for like an hour between recharges...
I'm guessing that the lack of back support on the chair is a "feature" to keep you from relaxing and thus tipping backwards?
Just one step away from an Overlord ordering me to dance and having one of his buddies to play the tune. We are so scr*wed!
ZOMG.. transformers are coming to life!!
"Capable of following a person, allowing it to function as a porter"
"Capable of avoiding obstacles to reach its owner and of autonomously transporting its owner"
That certainly makes people obsolete (view expressed is only valid for politicians)
They already made a trumpet-playing one, which is MORE amazing. Violins use pressure to make sound via the strings and bow, but trumpets have to have a buzzing motion along with high velocity air... they would have to make a fleshy-yet-firm substance for that.
"a fleshy-yet-firm substance for that"
You just turned me on for some reason....
Have the violin playing one transform into the cart when I'm done at starbucks and I'm game!
While you sob uncontrollably (because people are laughing at you scooting along in your port-a-potty on wheels), the robot plays his violin to console you.