QRIO

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=The Concept=

QRIO is a product of cutting edge artificial intelligence and dynamics technology. QRIO can gather information and move around on its own. QRIO not only walks on two legs, it can also manage uneven surfaces, dance, recognize people's faces, voices and even carry on a conversation. =Capabilties=

If QRIO does lose its balance, it reacts to protect itself against the impact. After it falls, QRIO checks front, back, left and right, and gets back up, by itself. Its intellectual capabilities allow QRIO to distinguish people's faces and voices. QRIO can communicate with people based on its own judgments, expressing its feelings through movements, conversation, and the use of its lights. Intelligent Servo Actuator (ISA) QRIO can walk on two feet and dance dynamically. To make its arms and legs strong while still moving fluidly, it was necessary to develop an entirely new joint actuator. The realization of this Actuator made it possible to build a robot with compact body design that could move its own body smoothly and dynamically.

In order for QRIO to walk and dance skillfully, an actuator was needed with the ability to produce varying levels of torque at varying rpm speeds, respond with quickness and agility, not be affected by outside forces.



QRIO's ISA system detects the current position of its joints and, based on the posture of QRIO's body, drives the joints to their calculated target position. The ISA determines the maximum amount of torque applied to the actuators and calculates the corresponding rise in temperature to allow QRIO to move about safely.

QRIO's ISA has a built-in governing computer, through which it responds quickly to requests for control commands by the bipedal robot's actuators. The latest microchip and software technology was used to make the system as small as possible. =Independent, Bipedal Walking= QRIO moves with "dynamic walking". In "dynamic walking", the center of gravity is not limited to the zone of stability. In fact it often moves outside of it as the robot walks. People move using "dynamic walking".



QRIO's underlying movement control method is based on the Zero Moment Point (ZMP), the point where the combined forces of gravity and inertia working on the robot intersect with the ground. This control system directs QRIO's movement so that its ZMP is always within its zone of stability. It also senses the pressure on the soles of the feet and the attitude of the robot's body in order to determine the condition of the walking surface, and adapt to changes in the surrounding environment. =Responding to Changes in Walking Surface= QRIO is equipped with technology that uses a wide range of sensors to detect changes in the walking surface and respond accordingly. QRIO determines the condition of the walking surface using four pressure sensors in the sole of each foot to gather data on the amount of force being received from the walking surface.



For example, when the foot touches an uneven surface, the sensors detect the slope of the ground; the foot is placed down in accord with the slope; and the attitude of the body is adjusted using data from position sensors so that the robot maintains a stable position as it moves. It can adjust to disparities in elevation up to 1 cm, and slopes up to 10 degrees.

=The Genesis=

SONY decided to create a 'partner' that talks to you, plays with you, encourages you and also entertains you. And inside this small robotic body, lives the same frontline technology and wealth of knowledge that fostered the development of SONY products like the HANDYCAM and WALKMAN.

=The Future = QRIO uses body language and words to convey a feeling of intimacy; QRIO can connect to the Internet and share the kind of information you like to hear.

Works Cited

Sony Global. "Sony Dream Robot- QRIO" 28 Feb 2006 . All Images coutesy of: http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/QRIO/