Kirobo Mini (Photo : Toyota)
In order to better help fatigued drivers deal with the emotional demands of long-hours driving, Toyota has unveiled the Kirobo Mini this past week during the Tokyo Motor Show.
The apple-sized robot is made to sit in the cup-holder beside the driver, and the device is part of Toyota Heart Project.
The main function of the Kirobo Mini is to offer emotional support to willing drivers who might be under the stress of driving or any other tension associated with using his car. The small robot will also provide the driver with tips of how to handle things while driving among other things.
The name "Kirobo" means "hope robot." The mini version to be used in cars is a relative of the Kirobo robot that went to the International Space Station (ISS) to help astronauts with a number of experiments in space.
The mini version for use in cars has a built-in software that collects data by just watching the driver and analyzing his mood for several hours behind the wheel. Toyota says the robot will make "driving become a physically and emotionally transformative experience."
The mini robot is capable of handling voice requests and giving direct answers, and it has a tiny camera to take in information. Its main duty is to analyze driver behavior so that future cars might also detect drivers' moods and act or respond accordingly.
Japanese largest automaker Toyota disclosed the average driver spends a minimum of 4.3 years of their lives behind the wheel, and this is equivalent to going to the moon and returning three times. The automaker aims to include the tiny device in future cars if it becomes a hit with consumers everywhere.
