Check Out Tokyo’s New Violin Playing Robot

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Toyota is a company primarily known for their main product of automobiles; however, Toyota and other companies focus on many different areas of technology and creation. Back in 2007, Honda saw a great response and gained lots of attention when the company revealed their robot, Asimo, that had the ability to run, kick as soccer ball and do much more. The 51 inch robot really displayed Honda’s ability to do something else and shock the world with an innovative non-car product. Now, Toyota is traveling down the same road and has revealed their latest humanoid robot that is similar to Asimo, but goes above an beyond by even being able to play the violin.

Toyota is trying to expand their global vision in the upcoming years and the reveal of this new robot falls into their plans for 2020. The robot is five feet tall and is extremely complex, which is displayed in the video above. The robot has the ability to move its arm, and fingers to successfully play the instrument in a traditional style just how a human would. The robot’s arm has 17 different movable joints that allow it to complete this action as well as the ability to respond to voice commands. Toyota has really created an interesting cyborg here that shows off the advancement of robotics. The robot even has an advanced face recognition software.

The violin playing robot can currently play Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance on the violin in a proficient manner. Although this is only one song, it’s amazing that the company has advanced the robot this far in the first place. Toyota originally had plans for the violin playing robot to be available for sale in early 2010. Since then, robotics have advanced even further and lots of different companies are discovering new ways to incorporate the use of robots into everyday life.

Photo Via Toyota

Written by Blaise Hopkins

Feel free to contact Blaise on Twitter @Blaisehopkins or check out his blog Man and His Movies.