Japanese carmakers have long been interested in creating humanoid robots, but so far they have been almost never used directly in businesses because their effectiveness is questionable from the perspective of classic automation standards. Regardless, new global trends have prompted Toyota’s decision to introduce up to 400,000 robots for various purposes in its factories.
Image source: Toyota Global
according to Nikkei Asian ReviewThe robots will include humanoid models (pictured above) created by Toyota ELEY, which weigh 50 kilograms and are equipped with long arms with “claws” that allow them to grab a variety of objects. They can be powered by batteries or an electrical outlet; instead of using legs, they use a wheelbase to move on a flat surface. The robot is capable of transferring objects from one container to another or folding fabric products. They are able to teach themselves and find the best way to perform a specific task.
Starting in 2028, Toyota and its subsidiaries plan to spend up to $6.42 billion annually to upgrade and rebuild its factories around the world. As part of the plan, Toyota will introduce 150,000 robots into its own factories, and another 250,000 robots will enter the factories of related companies. Toyota itself has 60 car plants around the world and employs about 18,000 experienced workers, who will need to find replacements for the foreseeable future. The robots will be adapted to real production conditions in professional laboratories, replicating working conditions on assembly lines. The same ELEY robot is already used in some Toyota production lines for experimental training purposes. Nearby workers were given hand-worn grippers that replicated the kinematics of the robot arm and facilitated their learning.
For example, in the middle of this month at Toyota’s European regional representative office, a robot’s ability to fold T-shirts was demonstrated. During training, he performed a similar maneuver 1,500 times over two weeks, after which he learned to perform it almost perfectly. The software will be replicated in all similar robots, so they will quickly acquire the necessary skills. Toyota even wants to use robots to train new hires to perform related operations. Hiroki Nakajima, the company’s executive vice president, emphasized: “We strive to create a world where robots coexist with humans, not replace them.”.
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