Toyota Flaunts Robo-Violinist

Brace yourself; you can now witness a different musical experience…

Drum roll here. Let the trumpets sing their tune. But oh – I really wanted the sweet cadence of a violin. Any violinist out there?

Ah-hah, I can listen to Toyota’s human-sized robot that can play the violin! No need for music maestro eh!

Toyota’s latest push into robotics, after showing off a robot with dexterous fingers that can play the trumpet is a counterpart that plays the violin. The Japanese automaker earlier showcased a 5ft robot with 17 joints in each hand and arm performing a full rendition of Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance. The rendition was note perfect, but was described by some as “stilted.”

"Over the next two to three years, we will put the robots to the test through trial applications and see what kind of business possibilities they present," Toyota president Katsuaki Watanabe told The Guardian in an interview.

Toyota will test out its robots at hospitals, Toyota-related facilities and other places starting next year, he said. “And the company hopes to put what it calls "partner robots" to real use by 2010,” he added. "We want to create robots that are useful for people in everyday life."

Robotics will become a core business for Toyota by 2020. The company will unveil medical robots next year, and plans more advanced "partner robots" for domestic duties, nursing, healthcare and short-distance personal transport by 2010, reported VNUNet.com.

The report continued: “Toyota also showed off Robina, a wheeled robot with a human torso which has been working as a guide at Toyota's showroom in Tokyo for the past year, answering questions and signing autographs. A third design, dubbed Mobina, is a two-wheeled 4mph motorized wheelchair that can navigate a variety of surfaces for 13 miles between charges. The company also plans a version that acts as a porter.”

Toyota Executive Vice President Takeshi Uchiyamada said technology that Toyota has developed in industrial manufacturing and automotive engineering will "spiral up" into robots. "We hope to create a robot that highlights Toyota's strengths," he said.

Koji Endo, auto analyst with Credit Suisse in Tokyo, told the Associated Press it was still unclear whether Toyota's robotics will bear fruit as a real business. But he praised Toyota for trying to branch into new sectors, noting it's likely to produce innovations that will in the long run be a plus for its auto business.

Robotics is the next big thing. I’m sure of that. But before we bother ourselves with the probable improvements in the industry, let the robo-violinist impress us much. Think of fixing your Dodge thermostat? How about doing it later…