JAPAN: Honda to unveil world's first robot controlable by human thought alone

Record ID: 401661

  • Title: JAPAN: Honda to unveil world's first robot controlable by human thought alone
  • Date: 31st March 2009
  • Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (MARCH 31, 2009) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) TATSUYA OKUBE, SENIOR SCIENTIST AT HONDA RESEARCH INSTITUTE JAPAN CO., LTD, SAYING "As you know, we are, we are fundamental researchers so now we are, we are challenging to release some new technology. So unfortunately now we cannot expect when we can release BMI (Brain Machine Interface) as a product." BRA
  • Embargoed: 15th April 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Japan
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: Science / Technology
  • Reuters ID: LVACBMZN2VCLDG4ADUAYSSZLL9V7
  • Story Text: Don't move just think.
    Honda unveiled the world's first technology system that enables humans to control robots by thoughts alone.
    The company held a news conference on Tuesday (March 31) in Tokyo, explaining how the system works using a brain activity measuring device that sends signals to Honda's famous ASIMO humanoid robot.
    With the latest Brain Machine Interface (BMI) technology, a joint development between Honda Research Institute Japan Co., Ltd, Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International (ATR) and Shimadzu Corporation, humans can now manipulate a robot without the hassle of pushing buttons, punching key boards and trying any physical movement.
    As a user imagines moving a body part, sensors placed on the head of the user measures and analyses the slight waves and blood flow change in the brain, which allows the robot to make corresponding movements such as raising its arm or leg.
    Honda says the company hopes to incorporate the technology into a variety of human-friendly products in the future, but making them available in stores might take some time.

    "We are challenging to release some new technology. So unfortunately now we cannot expect when we can release BMI (Brain Machine Interface) as a product," Tatsuya Okube, Senior Scientist at Honda Research Institute Japan Co., Ltd, told Reuters.
    Japan, home to almost half of the world's 800,000 industrial robots, expects a 10 billion U.S. dollar industry in the future, particularly as helpers for its growing elderly population.
    ENDS.
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