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May 18, 2006TECHNOLOGY SMILING
May 28, 2006Two items:
Asimo turns to telepathy
Japanese automaker Honda has developed technology that uses brain signals to control a robot’s moves, hoping to someday link a person’s thoughts with machines in everyday life.
In a video demonstration in Tokyo, patterns of the changes in the brain taken by an MRI machine, like those used in hospitals, were relayed to a robotic hand.
A person in the MRI machine made a fist, spread his fingers and then made a V-sign. Several seconds later, the robotic hand made the same movements. Further research would be needed to decode more complex movements.
At least another five or 10 years are probably needed before Asimo starts moving according to our mental orders, according to Honda.Right now, Asimo’s metallic hand can’t even make a V-sign.
Japan’s industry ministry plans to compile safety guidelines for next-generation robots as they will be providing services in the future in areas like nursing, security and cleaning, ministry officials said Saturday.
The guidelines will require manufacturers to install enough sensors to minimize the risk of the robots running into people and use soft and light materials so they do not cause harm if they do so, the officials said.
They will also be required to install emergency shut-off buttons, they said.
