This!
Japanese robot finds lost things
TOKYO (Reuters) - Forgot where you put your glasses? A Japanese robot can find them for you, and guide you to where they are.
The red and white robot, named EMIEW2, is about the size of a six-year-old child and glides everywhere on wheels at the bottom of its legs, its round, white face with two black eyes vaguely reminiscent of the iconic "Hello Kitty."
But the robot, the latest version of one that debuted in 2005 and developed by electronics firm Hitachi, is more than just another cute face. It has enough artificial intelligence to identify and locate objects it has been shown, as well as recognizing human faces.
Shown a digital camera in a recent demonstration, the robot said, "That's probably a DSLR camera."
When it sees an object, the robot uses two cameras mounted on its head to compare the color and shape with images stored in its database.
"EMIEW collects images of various objects from the internet and saves them on an external database," said developer Takashi Sumiyoshi.
"Then, when you show it something, EMIEW figures out what it is by comparing the color and shape. If you name an object, EMIEW searches for it and guides you to where it is located."
To do so, the robot communicates with a network of cameras mounted around the room.
Asked to find a watch, the robot said, "The watch is on Mr. Tanaka's desk. I'll lead you to it." It then glided toward the desk at a speed of 6 km (3.7 miles) an hour, about the pace at which a human can follow with brisk steps.
The unit weighs 14 kg (31 lbs) and its legs fold up for easy carrying. The wheels feature "posture control" technology that helps it make smoother turns.
"We developed this robot to mainly provide guidance services for people, so it has to be nimble in moving around without bumping into people, and light as well so it wouldn't hurt anybody even if it accidentally hit them," Sumiyoshi said.
The robot's developers have no plans to commercialize it but believe it will eventually become a standard feature of care homes for the elderly, hospitals, tourist attractions -- and ultimately, the home.
(Reporting by Hyun Oh; editing by Elaine Lies and Daniel Magnowski)
2012年2月29日水曜日
2012年2月20日月曜日
Here Comes the Sun...
...to help fill our need for electrical power.
Here's what the Japan Times online reports about a solar energy project in Yamanashi Prefecture:
Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012
Huge Yamanashi solar farm online
Kyodo
KOFU, Yamanashi Pref. — A solar power plant with a capacity of 10 megawatts began operating Friday in Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture.
The Komekurayama power station, built by Tokyo Electric Power Co. on a 12.5-hectare site, is one of the largest photovoltaic facilities in Japan and produces enough electricity to power around 3,400 homes.
The site is being leased to Tepco for free by the Yamanashi Prefectural Government.
Landlocked Yamanashi receives plenty of sunshine and is trying to attract solar power plant projects. In addition to the one in Kofu, other projects are proceeding in the cities of Kai and Nirasaki.
Tepco is struggling to resolve the triple-meltdown crisis at its Fukushima No. 1 power plant.
Here's what the Japan Times online reports about a solar energy project in Yamanashi Prefecture:
Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012
Huge Yamanashi solar farm online
Kyodo
KOFU, Yamanashi Pref. — A solar power plant with a capacity of 10 megawatts began operating Friday in Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture.
The Komekurayama power station, built by Tokyo Electric Power Co. on a 12.5-hectare site, is one of the largest photovoltaic facilities in Japan and produces enough electricity to power around 3,400 homes.
The site is being leased to Tepco for free by the Yamanashi Prefectural Government.
Landlocked Yamanashi receives plenty of sunshine and is trying to attract solar power plant projects. In addition to the one in Kofu, other projects are proceeding in the cities of Kai and Nirasaki.
Tepco is struggling to resolve the triple-meltdown crisis at its Fukushima No. 1 power plant.
2012年2月19日日曜日
Kamikaze!
It's a famous story in Japan, about when the Mongol invaders arrived off the coast and were defeated by a "divine wind", known as the kamikaze. Now the wreck of one of their ships is about to become an official historical site--an underwater relic.
Here's what todays Japan Times online reports, with the help of the Kyodo news service:
Sunday, Feb. 19, 2012
Mongol shipwreck to be first historical seabed site
Kyodo
The sea floor off Nagasaki Prefecture should be designated as a national historical site because of the wreck of a ship thought to have been used by 13th-century Mongol invaders, the Cultural Affairs Council has recommended.
The 384,000-sq.-meter area, about 200 meters off the island of Takashima, is expected to soon become the first underwater site to be awarded the designation. There are nearly 1,700 national historical sites in Japan.
The ship is believed to have sunk in a storm in 1281, during an ill-fated Mongol attempt to invade Kyushu.
Underwater excavations began at the site in 1980. Researchers from the University of the Ryukyus found the remains of the hull last year, including a 12-meter-long section of the keel and an outer panel.
Large amounts of porcelain and weaponry were also found in the vicinity.
The council determined the shipwreck to be a significant source of information on the 1281 Mongol attack, as well as on military activities and foreign affairs at that time. Before the discovery, information about the attack had only been gleaned from historical documents and records.
Granting the designation is seen promoting further research and preservation of underwater ruins. As of 2000, 216 such ruins had been confirmed beneath Japanese waters, according to a report by the education ministry's Cultural Affairs Agency.
Here's what todays Japan Times online reports, with the help of the Kyodo news service:
Sunday, Feb. 19, 2012
Mongol shipwreck to be first historical seabed site
Kyodo
The sea floor off Nagasaki Prefecture should be designated as a national historical site because of the wreck of a ship thought to have been used by 13th-century Mongol invaders, the Cultural Affairs Council has recommended.
The 384,000-sq.-meter area, about 200 meters off the island of Takashima, is expected to soon become the first underwater site to be awarded the designation. There are nearly 1,700 national historical sites in Japan.
The ship is believed to have sunk in a storm in 1281, during an ill-fated Mongol attempt to invade Kyushu.
Underwater excavations began at the site in 1980. Researchers from the University of the Ryukyus found the remains of the hull last year, including a 12-meter-long section of the keel and an outer panel.
Large amounts of porcelain and weaponry were also found in the vicinity.
The council determined the shipwreck to be a significant source of information on the 1281 Mongol attack, as well as on military activities and foreign affairs at that time. Before the discovery, information about the attack had only been gleaned from historical documents and records.
Granting the designation is seen promoting further research and preservation of underwater ruins. As of 2000, 216 such ruins had been confirmed beneath Japanese waters, according to a report by the education ministry's Cultural Affairs Agency.
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