Murata’s Robot Cheerleaders Achieve Highly Synchronized Dancing
Murata’s Robot Cheerleaders Achieve Highly Synchronized Dancing – Showcasing advanced technologies for flawless stability and synchronization –
Date: Sep 25, 2014
Source: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
Tokyo, September 25, 2014 – Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd., a global leader in advanced electronic components and solutions, today unveiled its latest innovation, the Murata Cheerleaders, a team of small robots that uses the latest sensing and communication technologies, as well as advanced group control technology to achieve perfect stability and flawless synchronized dancing.
Unlike their predecessors bicycle-riding MURATA BOY and unicycle-riding MURATA GIRL, the Murata Cheerleaders do not get around on wheels but instead on a ball, atop of which they remain balanced as the ball rolls along. They can move swiftly in any direction and remain upright using three advanced gyro sensors, which incorporate inverted-pendulum control technology, to detect tilt angles. Similar gyro sensors are commonly used in digital cameras, car navigation systems, and more recently, the electronic stability control (ESC) systems that prevent cars from skidding.
The Murata Cheerleaders are capable of high-precision routines thanks to real-time position measurement technology. Each robot is equipped with four infrared sensors and five ultrasonic microphones to detect surrounding objects, even in the dark. Based on the differing speeds of sound and light waves, this system is capable of determining the relative positions of the robots within a 16m2 space.
In collaboration with researchers from Matsuno Lab at Kyoto University, Murata has also developed an advanced group control technology that allows 10 robots to perform in synchronization without colliding. Each robot’s location is communicated via a wireless communication network and controlled through a specially developed program. This same technology may someday be used to realize safer and more efficient vehicle and transportation systems.
“The Murata Cheerleaders showcase the ability of electronics to enrich our lives,” says Yuichi Kojima, Senior Vice President and Deputy Director of Murata’s Technology & Business Development Unit. “We believe that the wireless communication of sensor data could become a core infrastructure for the advanced integration of people and objects in smart societies.”
“We developed the Murata Cheerleaders to demonstrate our electronics technologies,” says Koichi Yoshikawa, Senior Manager of Corporate Communications, who played a key role in developing the Murata Cheerleaders, as well as MURATA BOY and MURATA GIRL. “Our hope is that the Murata Cheerleaders will inspire new discoveries by young innovators and put smiles on the faces of people worldwide.”
MURATA GIRL (Left) and MURATA BOY (Right)
The Murata Cheerleaders are Murata’s fourth generation of robots, following the first MURATA BOY in 1991, the second MURATA BOY in 2005, and MURATA GIRL in 2008. The Murata Cheerleaders will be showcased at the upcoming CEATEC 2014 scheduled from October 7 to 11 in Tokyo.
Murata in Brief
Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. is a worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and sale of ceramic-based passive electronic components & solutions, communication modules and power supply modules. Murata is committed to the development of advanced electronic materials and leading edge, multi-functional, high-density modules. The company has employees and manufacturing facilities throughout the world. For more information, visit Murata’s website at www.murata.com
Murata Cheerleader Robots Dance in Synchronization While Balancing on Balls
Date: Sep. 25, 2014
Source: DigiInfo TV
Murata Manufacturing recently unveiled a team of 10 robots called the Murata Cheerleaders, which dance in formation while balancing on top of balls.
The Murata Cheerleaders are Murata’s fourth generation of robots, following the bicycle-riding MURATA BOY in 1991, the second MURATA BOY in 2005, and the unicycle-riding MURATA GIRL in 2008. All of these robots incorporate Murata’s proprietary core technology.
In addition to being equipped with attitude control technology adapted from the previous robots, the new robots incorporate group control technology to perform in synchronization while accurately identifying their relative positions.
“The robots have three main technical features. The first is inverted-pendulum control technology to maintain stability. This was first used in MURATA BOY and the MURATA GIRL, and now a more advanced version has been developed for the Murata Cheerleaders.”
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Ball-balancing robots unveiled
Date: Sep. 25, 2014
Source: NHK World
A leading maker of electronic parts for cars and smartphones on Thursday unveiled a robot capable of balancing on a ball using the latest sensor technology. Murata Manufacturing had previously introduced a bicycle-riding robot and a unicycle-riding robot. The new robot looks like a cheerleader 36 centimeters tall. It can move its arms up and down.
10 robots, balanced on balls, danced on a stage, changing from one formation to another in harmony. With the latest gyro sensors, they can balance on a ball and at the same time move forward, backward, right, and left.
Engineers in the project say a group of the robots can move in unison without bumping into each other. They exchange position information using ultrasonic waves and infrared rays.
These robots will be on display at “CEATEC JAPAN 2014“. The trade show of IT and digital technologies opens on October 7th at a major exhibition center in Chiba City, near Tokyo