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Hitachi
Research & Development

Overview & Features

Overall configuration

EMIEW3 is a humanoid robot with enhanced degree of autonomy based on EMIEW and EMIEW2. A "remote brain" consisting of control functions deployed on the cloud and a robot monitoring system, forms the robotics IT platform, which combined with EMIEW3, enables support in customer and guidance services.

It is becoming increasingly difficult for one person to manage various service situations as the digital divide continues to widen with the advent of enhanced services leveraging IT and communications issues arise with increasing globalization and diversification of lifestyles.

EMIEW3 serves as reliable helper in such situations, responding to any question with a broad as well as deep knowledge of its assigned territory, thus contributing to customer satisfaction and operational efficiency.

Overall structure of EMIEW3 and Robotics IT platform
Overall structure of EMIEW3 and Robotics IT platform

Areas of application

Use case example
Use case example

Demo video of use case example
Demo video of use case example

Possible areas of application include increasingly sophisticated services for people, such as:

  • Passenger guidance in facilities such as airports and stations, requiring multiple language services
  • Customer support in outlets handling various complicated services, such as banks
  • Assistance to older persons or children - users who may not be familiar with information services

Activeness

Using its environmental recognition (coordinated environmental sensors, human detection) and communication (noise robust voice recognition, automatic translation) functions, EMIEW3 does not have to wait until a customer speaks to initiate an action. For example, it can detect a customer who appears to be in need, and initiate support autonomously.

During the conversation, the multiple microphones located on its head are used to capture the voice of the speaker even with background noise. EMIEW3 recognizes Japanese and English language, as well as being able to "speak" with a child's voice.

Human detection linked to environmental sensors
Human detection linked to environmental sensors

Robust voice processing in ambient noise
Robust voice processing in ambient noise

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Maneuverability

Standing up after a fall
Standing up after a fall

Demo video of standing up
Demo video of standing up

The size of 90 cm high and 15 kg in weight has a high level of acceptability in activities involving humans. Together with its curve design with few protrusions and mobility (moving at the same speed as humans, overcoming floor level difference, regaining posture, avoiding obstacles), EMIEW3 is able to move smoothly indoors, and in rare event that it should fall over, EMIEW3 is also able to stand up by itself.

Operability

By building the "remote brain" on the cloud, computing power can be flexibly extended as well as enabling coordination with business systems. Further, an integrated surveillance function was developed to monitor multiple robots and multiple locations at once. These features allow multiple EMIEW3 to share information and cooperate in delivering services. For example, when the first robot transfers a task of giving directions to a second robot, information regarding the destination is also transferred. In such a way, the integrated control of multiple robots can be easily achieved.

Surveillance monitor
Surveillance monitor

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