Yamaha takes Motobot to second phase of development
Phase two aims to have Motobot lapping a circuit at over 120mph by 2017
YAMAHA has used the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas to announce that its humanoid riding robot, Motobot, has moved into its second phase of development.
In conjunction with the robotics arm of the research and development company SRI International, phase two of the Motobot project is aimed at developing the technology towards circuit riding.
We're sure it's move that’s almost certain to ultimately contribute to mankind being enslaved by an army of self-aware superbike-riding robots, but Yamaha says its objective is less sinister - it wants Motobot to be capable of lapping a circuit at over 124mph by 2017.
So why is Yamaha doing this? Because Motobot is a test bed; the technology being used and developed around it is intended to be applied to rider support systems in the future, plus it could open up some lucrative business development opportunities for Yamaha.
