JAPAN: Japan's top companies show off their latest high-tech electronics at exhibition in Tokyo

Record ID: 464925

  • Title: JAPAN: Japan's top companies show off their latest high-tech electronics at exhibition in Tokyo
  • Date: 1st October 2008
  • Summary: NISSAN BOOTH NISSAN SIGN NISSAN ROBOTS AND NISSAN DEMONSTRATORS AT THE BOOTH ROBOT AVOIDING THE DEMONSTRATOR TWO ROBOTS AVOIDING THE DEMONSTRATOR AND CIRCLING AROUND MORE OF ROBOT (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) TOSHIYUKI ANDOH, MANAGER AT NISSAN RESEARCH CENTER, SAYING: "A sensor called the 'laser range finder' which is attached on the robot's chest, detects obstacles up to 180 degrees and 2 metres (0.8inches) ahead of its sight. Once it detects an obstacle, it automatically avoids it according to its speed, direction and distance, which is something we've adapted from the bee's behaviors."
  • Embargoed: 16th October 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Japan
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: Science / Technology
  • Reuters ID: LVAEK1IN0GSNRX5GNYODNUDIAKUO
  • Story Text: Top Japanese companies showcase their latest gadgets and robots at an annual hi-tech exhibition in Tokyo.
    Over 800 companies showcased their latest high-tech electronics, gadgets and robots at the annual CEATECH (Cutting-edge IT & Electronics Comprehensive Exhibition) show on Tuesday (September 30) in Tokyo.
    One of the most popular attractions was Murata Manufacturing's unicycle-riding robot "Murata Girl".
    With several positioning, motion and shock control sensors attached to its body, the robot is capable of detecting obstacles while balancing on its own.
    It is about 50 centimetres (20 inches) tall, weights about 5 kilograms (11 pounds) and runs about 5 centimetres (2 inches) per second.
    The robot is also an upgraded version of the company's long-run icon "Murata Boy", which is capable of riding a bicycle.

    "Technology and idea-wise it's simple because we just had to program the robot to balance back and forth instead sideways like we did with the bicycle-riding robot," Shigeki Fukunaga, Murata's product engineering director, told Reuters. "It's more complicated when it comes to performance since the robot needs to maintain its balance 360 degrees."
    Fukunaga says the company hopes to implement the robot's technology into various electronics and vehicles in the future to create a bicycle that never falls down and automobiles that can avoid accidents.
    One of the world's leading car manufacturers, Nissan Motors, was also present at the show as the company introduced its latest robotics technology.

    "Biomimetic Robot 23 Car" is 60 centimeres (24 inches) tall and wide and carries various obstacle-detection and prevention sensors.

    "A sensor called the 'laser range finder' which is attached on the robot's chest, detects obstacles up to 180 degrees and 2 metres (0.8inches) ahead of its sight," said Toshiyuki Ando, manager at Nissan research center. "Once it detects an obstacle, it automatically avoids it according to its speed, direction and distance, which is something we've adapted from bee's behaviors."
    According to Ando, bees' sense of personal space and the ability to avoid any kind of obstacles can be implemented into future cars and a variety of recreational vehicles.
    While Murata and Nissan attracted many visitors with their robots, Pioneer, the manufacturer of car stereos, plasma televisions and home theatre systems, also received a lot of attention.
    Their three-dimensional display called the "3D Floating Vision" is capable of reflecting all kinds of floating images that can be seen without using special three-dimensional eye glasses.
    Pioneer combined the three-dimensional technology with some of its communication systems using an infrared sensor in order to enhance the user interface.
    Using this technology, a cell phone user can now physically scoop coupons displayed on screen with their cell phone and receive information at the same time.

    "We've placed an infrared sensor around the floating images. It detects the cell phone when it hits the image and sends out the matched information from a computer via wireless LAN. That's how you receive coupons on your cell phone," said director of Pioneer's floating vision Toshiyuki Andoh.
    Andoh says combined with the latest and cutting-edge technology in Japan's booming cell phone industry, the company has the potential to expand its business across the communications sector.
    The latest flat screen TVs were also on display as big names like Sony, Toshiba, Hitachi, Sharp and Pioneer battled it out with their newest LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) televisions, as each company aimed to go beyond its TV displays being just thin, wide and large.
    The show expects to attract more than 200 thousand visitors over five days starting Tuesday (September 30).
    ENDS.
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