Hachioji's Future Embraces Charming Robots: Understanding the Motivation Behind Crafting Robots that Imitate Living Creatures' Movements and Innovations
In the outskirts of Tokyo's Hachioji district, a lesser-known facility within Toyota is making waves in the world of mobility. The Hachioji design base serves as the hub for Toyota's endeavours in emerging areas beyond cars, pushing the boundaries of traditional automotive design towards new forms of mobility.
The facility, once known as the Tokyo Design Research Lab, has evolved into the Advanced Design Development Department. As Toyota aimed for transformation into a mobility company, the research lab's focus expanded from cars to all aspects of life.
Key to the innovative developments at the Hachioji design base is the design of mobility products inspired by biological movements. The aim is to create forms and functions that are more natural and adaptive. This approach is evident in the Micro Palette, a small delivery robot that was a topic of discussion at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show.
The Micro Palette was developed with a focus on people's fundamental desires in the context of mobility. It transports not only items but also emotions, offering a more personal and empathetic logistics experience. The robot's design does not include discernible eyes or mouth, but it subtly moves to create the impression of intentional communication.
To create trust, Takashi Nishimura, the Assistant Manager of the Advanced Design Development Department, and his team investigated subtle human communication and gestures that evoke an instinctive sense of cuteness. The behavior of a spotted garden eel, a marine fish that stays still when touched gently but quickly retreats when approached suddenly, served as inspiration for the Micro Palette's design.
The entrance of the Hachioji design base features unfamiliar mobility devices, including the nap seat TOTONE and the electric wheelchair JUU capable of climbing stairs. These devices hint at the base's focus on developing next-generation products that could include robot-based mobility or new mobility concepts beyond conventional cars.
While specific product details are not publicly detailed in the recent sources, the Hachioji design base clearly emphasizes forward-thinking, next-generation innovations in mobility. The team's mission is to blend robotics, biomimicry, and user-centric design to redefine how mobility can evolve.
As Toyota continues to innovate and push the boundaries of mobility, the Hachioji design base stands as a testament to the company's commitment to creating endearing, adaptive, and user-friendly mobility solutions for the future.
Artificial intelligence is employed in the development of the Micro Palette, a small delivery robot, to create a subtle yet communicative design that evokes a sense of cuteness, aiming to build trust with users. The Hachioji design base is not only focusing on next-generation Cars but also venturing into robot-based mobility and new artificial-intelligence-driven mobility concepts.
