Robotic dog could help the visually impaired
Bearings manufacturer NSK has developed a robotic guide dog to provide people with physical disabilities a better sense of autonomy.
The Japanese firm's four legged mechanical prototype utilises Microsoft's Xbox 360 Kinect peripheral to sense the world around it.
Proximity sensors attached to drive wheels on each of its legs allow it to maneuver over flat surfaces and even tackle stairs.
According to NSK, a novel algorithm lets the robot convert information gained from a distance image sensor on its head into 3D shape, position and attitude information, enabling it to detect stair number and width.
The robotic dog also has a bumper sensor in each foot to avoid crashing into things and incorporates voice recognition technology.
NSK believes the mechanical creature could one day be used to replace real guide dogs, which often require long and expensive training. Mainstream application is anticipated for 2020.
