Toyota goes all cute with Kirobo Mini 05 | 10 | 2016

    HERE’S SOMETHING A little different: Toyota is bringing its Kirobo Mini to market in 2017, proving that robots can be cute and companionable as well as useful. (Related: Roadtest — Toyota Hilux 2.4 Double Cab)

    Developed as a “communication partner,” Kirobo Mini — whose seated height is 10cm — can hold a basic conversation, make hand gestures, and can respond to human emotions. Small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, it is perfectly portable so can serve as a constant companion to its owner. We know: it’ll become a sane alternative to your smartphone!

    Having said that: watch the Kirobo Mini video. It gets eerily spooky towards the end.

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    Sales will start at selected Toyota dealers in Japan this winter ahead of a nationwide roll-out next year. Oh, and it’ll set you back around 300 quid, with an additional monthly fee of around £2.50 for use of the dedicated app.

    Kirobo Mini’s range of gestures and conversational skills are principally made possible by its connection via Bluetooth to smartphones installed with a dedicated app.

    Rather spookily, the built-in camera allows it to recognise people’s facial expressions and try to gauge their emotions, changing the way it speaks and moves accordingly.

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    Kirobo Mini can also draw on information from the vehicle or home environment to generate a conversation … hmmm, at present exclusively in Japanese.

    Kirobo Mini has been developed as part of the Toyota Heart Project, which aims to create human-like interaction between man and machine in a format other than automobiles, but using the same fundamental concept of “inspiring the heart, inspiring you” that it applies to vehicle manufacturing.

    Related: Kazuki Nakajima — We will return stronger

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    Jim McGill

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