Toyota's Trumpet Playing Robot Showcased 356
fsharp writes "The New York Times has an article discussing the first public showing of Toyota's new humanoid robot. During a demonstration, the biped robot played trumpet together with a rolling robot. Most telling about the article was the whole philosophy towards R&D: 'Toyota acknowledges that it is unlikely to turn a profit building robots anytime soon, but the program highlights its engineering-oriented culture and willingness to invest in projects that may not pay off for decades.' How many companies these days are willing to drop money into some technology that may not turn a profit for many years?"
Boring ... ZZZzzzzzz..... (Score:5, Funny)
Our end is near... (Score:5, Funny)
Hmmm, flexible humanoid lips? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Very cool, but.. (Score:5, Funny)
Robots aren't cool?! What are you, an American CEO?
Do it like Fark (Score:4, Funny)
Still working on the cure for the common cold, world peace, and an end to poverty.
Re:Very cool, but.. (Score:5, Funny)
I can see GM doing a robotic nose flute or kazoo.
Re:Very cool, but.. (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Boring ... ZZZzzzzzz..... (Score:3, Funny)
I'm still beta testing them.
Re:Alternative Article (Score:5, Funny)
The 35kg as yet unnamed robot has artificial lips which can alter their position as subtly as human lips as air is forced through them, enabling it to play a trumpet as it presses the stops with its hands."
Am I the only one wondering...
I for one...... (Score:5, Funny)
(sorry someone had to)
I, for one, (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Lots of them are... (Score:5, Funny)
YES! At last I will be able to get new artificial lips and be able to play the trumpet again!
--
Imagine the future uses of this robot... (Score:5, Funny)
sorry...
Re:Our end is near... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Our end is near... (Score:5, Funny)
I hear the bagpipe playing robot is still in development.
Re:Smart Move (Score:3, Funny)
not turning a profit... (Score:3, Funny)
Judging from the Windows market share, I'd say a lot.
Re:Very cool, but.. (Score:5, Funny)
Sure, if you wanted the robot to play a half-tone flat for half an hour and then fall on its face...
BenRe:Smart Move (Score:1, Funny)
An army of robot musicians playing polka gives me the creeps...
Asimo... (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Very cool, but.. (Score:3, Funny)
OMG
Re:Very cool, but.. (Score:3, Funny)
Stree performers out of work (Score:2, Funny)
Next thing you know street performers (who used to work in a factory or office) will be....well, ok they'll still on the street but you get the idea.
Evil Japanese plan to take over the world (Score:4, Funny)
And now we have a trumpet playing robot...
Oh, I see, I get it - here's the secret evil Japanese plan to take over the world - they're going to create a robotic marching band!
waiting (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Why automotive companies? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Our end is near... (Score:3, Funny)
By stealing it from Toyota?
-matt
Oh, just lovely... (Score:2, Funny)
Automotive Arms War (Score:2, Funny)
First it was Honda and their dancing robot. How cute.
Next it's Toyota and a trumpet playing robot. Amazing!
Do you notice a trend with these auto companies creating more and more sophisticated robots to one-up the competition?
How long before Honda unveils their Asimo complete with a 120mm M829 Armor Piercing, Fin Stabilized, Discarding Sabot-Tracer Depleted Uranium cannon? [globalsecurity.org]
Will Toyota fire back with their trumpet playing metalstorm [metalstorm.com] wielding automation?
Re:Very cool, but.. (Score:3, Funny)
Needs more cowbell.
Re:Very cool, but.. (Score:1, Funny)
http://www.jda.go.jp/JMSDF/event/cm_p/inde