HRP-2M Choromet
The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) in Japan, in partnership with General Robotix and Moving Eyes, Inc., has developed a new version of the HRP-2 robot. It is called the HRP-2M Choromet robot, or simply HRP-2M.
Aside from AIST and General Robotix, Pirkus Robotics and Dai Nippon Technical Institute were also part of the team that developed this robot that runs on real-time Linux and can stand on one leg, walk, and wave its hands. The HRP-2M Choromet robot can also sit down on its own, lie flat on its back, and then stand back up autonomously.
The previous version can do these things too, but the HRP-2M differs in functionality and price. The 35 centimeter tall robot is equipped with special triaxial force sensors in addition to its accelerometer and gyroscope sensors. With these sensors, the robot can be programmed utilizing feedback loops.
The HRP-2M robot tips the scale at 1.5 kilograms, and despite its size and weight, it has 20 degrees of freedom (DOF). This version lacked a camera during its earlier development, but after developers were able to bridge that gap, this robot can now perform incredible feats like 3D vision and object recognition, among others. It can also perform almost human-like dance, and do simple human tasks like opening a refrigerator and retrieving something requested by its operator.
Its developers are now working on a smaller version of the HRP-2M, as the current model is relatively expensive and not so much a toy as a research platform. They hope that a newer and smaller version will maintain its functionality while coming at a cheaper price.
Features:
Ntl. Inst. of Advanced Industrial Science and Tech. (AIST)
General Robotix, Inc.
