NSK, a Japanese robotics company, is currently working on its third generation seeing-eye dog robot that can move across floors, climb stairs and assist the visually impaired to become more independent. The newest robot can move up to 10 times faster than the company’s previous ones and improvements have been made to keep the robot from bumping into objects and falling down.
Robotics researchers have also given the latest guide dog robot the gift of sight by adding a Microsoft Kinect camera to its head. This can help it to navigate stairs and other obstacles. Kinect cameras are traditionally used for video games but scientists have started using them to give robots around the world sight which is quite valuable for the seeing eye robot.
NSK is currently exhibiting their seeing eye robot at the 2011 International Robot Exhibition in Ariake, Japan.
