Toyota has recently unveiled the Kirobo Mini at the Tokyo Motor Show. The small robot is designed to keep the driver from dozing off or being bored while driving.
Kirobo Mini is part of the Toyota Heart Project. The tiny machine is named after Kirobo, the astronaut robot that has successfully returned to the Earth after a year and six months in the International Space Station, according to TechPP.
Toyota's aim may be understated, but long drives do take a toll on the driver. Sometimes they can fall asleep on the wheel, causing road accidents. Besides distracted driving, sleepiness is also one of the causes of collisions.
The danger is especially true for those who drive alone. Kirobo the robot could be a proxy for a passenger. Family drives tend to be light because they play games and such. Drivers who are alone are much more at risk.
Toyota's small robot companion will be able to sit with the driver in the car. He could fit inside the cup-holder for a firm place. The robot will occasionally give tips and converse with the driver, according to Slash Gear.
The Kirobo Mini is less than four inches tall. One of the expected features is that it could respond to the driver's emotions. For instance, it could try and wake the driver up when it senses sleepiness. Kirobo Mini could also help calm the driver down if there is an argument on the road.
Project Manager Fuminori Kataoka told Tech in Asia: "You'll try to drive more safely, as if you were with a friend or family member. We're focused on raising the awareness of the driver, rather than direct safety functionality."
Unfortnately, Kirobo Mini is not up for commercialization yet, according to Gizmodo. The robot is still a concept design. Should the development be successful, it could hold more features such as GPS navigation and integration with smart cars, possibly with Apple CarPlay and Google's Android Auto.
Kirobo Mini is an interesting concept robot. It could be useful when it finally rolls out to the consumers. Will it be able to reduce the number of road accidents?
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