The concept of driverless cars has captivated the world, presenting a complex challenge that advanced technology and innovative minds are steadily overcoming.?These vehicles are designed to analyse their surroundings, thereby enabling them to operate without human intervention.?
Building on this innovation, scientists at the University of Tokyo, led by Dr Kento Kawaharazuka, have taken a remarkable step forward by creating a robot capable of driving a regular car.
This musculoskeletal humanoid robot, named Musashi, is crafted to mimic the human body and drive a car just like any human would. With this advancement, the possibility of having a robotic chauffeur driving a non-autonomous vehicle seems closer than ever.
Musashi is engineered with a musculoskeletal structure that closely resembles the human body, featuring 39 joints (excluding the hands) and 74 muscles. It has five fingers on each hand, equipped with pressure sensors in both the hands and feet. This design allows the robot to perform complex tasks such as using the handbrake, switching the ignition key, pressing pedals, steering, and using indicators.
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The robot's eyes are high-resolution cameras connected to artificial intelligence systems. These cameras enable Musashi to recognise people in the wing mirrors, respond accordingly, understand pedestrian crossings, and detect changes in traffic lights.
Musashi stands as a significant milestone in the sector of robotics and autonomous driving technology, while still being in the early stages of development. Presently, the robot has the capacity to only drive in a straight line and make right turns at a maximum speed of just 3 mph.
Dr Kawaharazuka acknowledges that the robot is not yet capable of driving and handling a car at the speeds that human drivers can achieve. However, he remains optimistic about the future, stating, "There will be a time when robots like Musashi will work as versatile drivers."
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