An autonomous car? Yes, but with this humanoid robot at the wheel

This is the idea of a team of roboticists from the University of Tokyo. Rather than completely transforming vehicles to drive themselves, these researchers have designed a robot capable of taking a seat in a standard car and driving it.


Most autonomous car projects focus on adding sensors and processing systems to make the vehicle itself intelligent. However, the results are often mixed. The Tokyo team's approach is radically different: creating a robot named Musashi that mimics the actions of a human driver. Musashi is a musculoskeletal humanoid equipped with arms, legs, hands, feet, a torso, a neck, and a head, all designed to operate a car's controls.

During tests on the Kashiwa campus track, the Musashi robot demonstrated that it could not only drive but also detect and respond to obstacles, including pedestrians. Its movable eyes, equipped with high-resolution cameras, its articulated arms, and its five-fingered hands enable precise manipulation of the steering wheel, accelerator, and brakes.

Musashi's brain is a powerful computing unit which, through learning software, allows it to drive autonomously. The trials have shown promising results, although Musashi is not yet ready for public roads. The researchers are optimistic and continue to refine their creation to improve its performance.

The ultimate goal is to determine whether a humanoid robot can drive as well, or even better, than a human. This research could change our approach to autonomous driving by combining advanced technologies with humanoid forms for greater versatility and safety.