Toyota Motor Corporation and Preferred Networks, Inc. (PFN) are partnering to research and develop Toyota’s Human Support Robot (HSR) robotics platform.
Toyota and PFN intend to develop service robots capable of learning in typical living environments and executing a variety of tasks. The companies will develop robots that cater to market needs.
Toyota will loan several dozen HSRs to PFN. Over three years, the two companies will collaborate in research and development. Both companies will share their respective development information and technologies, including existing intellectual property.
Both companies will seek to accelerate development aimed at the practical realisation of service robots.
“Since around 2004, Toyota has engaged in the development of partner robots that support both people with disabilities and the elderly, based on the concept of ‘coexisting with humans and assisting them in their daily lives,’” Toyota’s frontier research centre chief officer Nobuhiko Koga says.
“In 2012, we developed the HSR, which has a basic robotics platform for supporting independent living. Going forward toward our goal to develop service robots that better cater to the needs of our customers, we are excited by the prospect of collaborating in research and development with PFN, which boasts world-class intelligence technologies.”
PFN president and chief executive Toru Nishikawa says HSR is an outstanding robotic platform.
“By engaging in joint research and development with Toyota, who created the HSR, we hope to accelerate development of the functions necessary for robots to work in human living environments. Our goal is to realise the practical implementation of service robots for the first time in the world.”
Toyota and PFN will work on joint development of service robots to respond to various needs to contribute to enhancing the quality of life for more people.
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