The University of Tokyo’s JSK Robotics Laboratory has developed a robot chauffeur capable of driving a car autonomously at low speeds.
Led by project assistant professor in JSK Robotics Laboratory Kento Kawaharazuka, the robot, named Musashi, has human-like skeleton and robotic wiring musculature enabling it to drive a car.
Musashi also has cameras in each of its eyes and force sensors in its hands and feet which enable it to drive.
AI systems inside the robot then work out what actions are needed to drive the car and react to events such as traffic lights changing colour or a person stepping in front of the car.
The robot can only perform a limited range of driving tasks at present, such as going forward in a straight line or taking a right-hand turn, moving at speeds of around five kilometres per hour on non-public roads.
Currently, the team hope that improvements in the robot’s capabilities will lead to fully autonomous robot chauffeurs within 50-100 years.
Assistant professor in JSK Robotics Laboratory Kento Kawaharazuka said: “The speed of the pedal or the velocity of the car is not high. Also the handling of the car is not fast compared to human beings.
“I’m not looking 10 or 20 years in the future, but I’m looking 50 or 100 years away.”
