Musashi (robot)

2024: Product Announcement

In mid-June 2024, Japanese researchers from the University of Tokyo introduced a humanoid robot named Musashi, which can drive a compact electric car. The goal of the project is to further develop the technologies of autonomous vehicles.

Experts note that the traditional autopilot provides for the use of an extensive set of all kinds of sensors - cameras, lidars, a receiver of satellite navigation systems, ultrasonic sensors, etc. Special algorithms based on artificial intelligence are used to process a huge array of incoming information. A team from the University of Tokyo offers a different approach: its essence lies in the use of a humanoid robot that can take control of a car.

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New Atlas

Musashi received a "musculoskeletal structure" inspired by the human body. Each eye of the robot houses high-resolution video cameras that can turn and tilt: this allows you to see the road and control the side mirrors. With the help of five-finger hands, the robot can turn on the ignition, turn the steering wheel, activate the handbrake and turn on the indicators. With his feet, Musashi presses the accelerator and brake pedals. Thus, the humanoid simulates the actions of a human driver by performing operations in accordance with embedded software algorithms.

The robot can control a single-seat electric micro-car COMS (Chotto Odekake Machimade Suisui), which was released by Toyota in 2012. While driving, Musashi monitors objects on the roadway and complies with traffic rules, including traffic lights. However, due to technical features, there are certain difficulties: for example, a robot may struggle to make turns at an intersection.^[1]

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