The Japanese love their robots. From Anime to real life, they’ve got robots galore and seem to be developing newer and better models for all purposes. A Japanese company called NSK Ltd. has just designed and developed a new robot that could easily be programmed to help the handicapped. Its function is to lead persons through obstacles. With the help of a laser range sensor, the robot can calculate hypothetical repulsive forces based on the distances to and directions of the obstacles in its path. Once it’s done with the calculations it automatically changes commands in accordance with the repulsive forces and moves so that the repulsive forces become as small as possible. Keeping this in mind it will be able to divert away from the obstacle in its way and lead those following away from the same. A handle built onto the robot can be used to signal direction and speed based on the users applied force to the same. It’s a brilliant concept and may not necessarily take the job away from a seeing-eye dog, but you never know.

[
Techon]