Destination international space station for toyota robot

Wed, 26 Jun 2013 00:30:00 +0200

First-ever human-robot conversation experiment to be conducted in space
Robot astronaut Kirobo scheduled for launch on August 4
JAXA Astronaut Koichi Wakata to converse with Kirobo in December
Toyota brings company's latest voice-recognition software to Kibo Robot Project

Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) today announced the launch date of its jointly developed robot astronaut to the International Space Station (ISS). Kirobo is set to blast off from Tanegashima Space Centre on-board the Kounotori 4 cargo spacecraft on August 4, 2013.

Kirobo is one of two humanoid verbal-communication robots developed under the Kibo Robot Project, a joint research project carried out by University of Tokyo's Research Centre for Advanced Science and Technology (RCAST), Robo Garage Co., Ltd., and TMC. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) also provided extensive assistance.

RCAST and Robo Garage worked on the development of the robot's hardware and Kirobo's mechanical movements, TMC contributed with the company's latest voice-recognition software, while Dentsu Inc. created the conversation content as well as management of the project.

The Kounotori transfer vehicle will be launched on the Japanese H-IIB Launch Vehicle No. 4 (H-IIB F4) on August 4, 2013. Kirobo will disembark at the ISS and wait for the arrival of Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata, scheduled to arrive on Expedition 38 between November and December. Astronaut Wakata will become the first Japanese commander of the ISS in 2014 when he assumes command during the continuing Expedition 39.

In the Kibo Japanese experiment module, Commander Wakata and Kirobo will take part in the first-ever conversation experiment held between humans and robots in space.

Project Timeline (planned)

Aug 4, 2013	Robot astronaut Kirobo leaves for the ISS
Aug-Sep, 2013	Kirobo speaks for the first time in space
Nov-Dec, 2013	Commander Wakata arrives at the ISS
Dec, 2013	Commander Wakata and Kirobo have their first conversation
May-Jun, 2014	Commander Wakata leaves the ISS
Dec, 2014	Kirobo returns to Earth

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Tmc becomes official tokyo 2020 bid partner

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 04:00:00 +0100

Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) has signed an agreement with the Tokyo 2020 Bid Committee to become an official partner* (from the automotive sector) supporting Tokyo's bid for the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The term of the agreement will be from March 26, 2013 through September 7, 2013, when the 2020 host city is selected.

TMC considers sports promotion as part of a company's social responsibility and as an official partner will actively contribute to Tokyo's bid for the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games by conducting support activities while using the official partner logo.

*Companies that conclude an agreement with the Tokyo 2020 Bid Committee to become an official partner acquire naming and official logo-use rights to support Tokyo's bid activities for the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Newsroom Toyota Europe

Destination international space station for toyota robot

Tmc becomes official tokyo 2020 bid partner