Murata cheerleaders demonstrate sensors, swarm intelligence
They are the latest creations from Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (Kyoto, Japan), a supplier of passive, RF and power components, that also developed Murata Boy and Murata Girl as platforms to prove out the compony’s components.
Murata Boy rode a bicycle while Murata Girl rode a unicycle. The Murata cheerleaders are self-balancing on top of a ball and can move in any direction while remaining upright using three gyroscope sensors that incorporate inverted-pendulum control technology, to detect tilt angles.
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 16 square meter 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.
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