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Nissan Adds Robot Helper To Its Concept Car

Posted by Zonk on Sat Oct 27, 2007 06:15 AM
from the i-don't-trust-glados-with-a-stick-shift dept.
Robotics Technology
narramissic writes "Nissan has mounted a robot passenger in the dashboard of its Pivo2 concept car whose job is to keep the driver happy, give spot-on directions, and even check your e-mail. 'We have data that happy drivers' accident rates are drastically lower than depressed ones, so this robot stays there to make sure the driver is happy always,' said Masato Inoue, chief designer at Nissan's exploratory design group, in an interview at the Motor Show. 'This guides the driver and sometimes cheers up the driver. For example, if the driver is irritated it might say 'Hey, you look somehow angry. Why? Please calm down.'' Other features of this vehicle include a cabin that can turn through 360 degrees so you never have to worry about looking behind when you back up and wheels that can twist 90 degrees, eliminating the need to parallel park." The article includes a video of the car talking to the driver, which is kind of adorable in a 'future is now' sorta way.
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Submission: Nissan Adds Robot Helper To Its Concept Car by narramissic (997261)
[+] IT: Researchers Test Drive Bus With Automated Steering 180 comments
An anonymous reader tips us to news that researchers at University of California, Berkeley, have successfully test driven a 60-foot bus that controlled its own steering. Sensors on the bus detected magnets that had been embedded in a San Leandro road, and it was able to reach stops within one centimeter of its desired position. Acceleration and braking during the test were controlled by a human operator, but the system is capable of handling those as well, and has done so on test courses. "... sensors mounted under the bus measured the magnetic fields created from the roadway magnets, which were placed beneath the pavement surface 1 meter apart along the center of the lane. The information was translated into the bus's lateral and longitudinal position by an on-board computer, which then directed the vehicle to move accordingly. For a vehicle traveling 60 miles per hour, data from 27 meters (88 feet) of roadway can be read and processed in 1 second. Zhang added that the system is robust enough to withstand a wide range of operating conditions, including rain or snow, a significant improvement to other vehicle guidance systems based upon optics."
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  • From the i-don't-trust-glados-with-a-stick-shift department
    Nah, GLaDOS is OK. Just don't throw her ethics module into a fire and you should be fine.

  • Clippy (Score:5, Funny)

    by Esion Modnar (632431) on Saturday October 27 2007, @06:21AM (#21138955)
    I see you're trying to parallel park. Can I assist you? Hey, now you like kinda angry. Please calm down. Count to ten. Wait! What are you doing?! Don't throw me out the window! Wait! Hey! Help!!!!

  • Beep (Score:5, Funny)

    by spankey51 (804888) on Saturday October 27 2007, @06:24AM (#21138959)
    "R2! We lost number two cupholder! See if you can't lock it down!"
  • >'Hey, you look somehow angry. Why? Please calm down'
    It was shortly afterwards the robot was punched into pieces and thrown out the window.

  • ugh (Score:3)

    by ardor (673957) on Saturday October 27 2007, @06:25AM (#21138965)
    You know, you've had a terrible day at work, fought with your wife, got pissed because of some other bad news, then you get into your car to drive home, and this robot goes "Hi! The sun is shining! Everybody is haaappyyy! Smmiiiile!"

    • You know, you've had a terrible day at work, fought with your wife, got pissed because of some other bad news, then you get into your car to drive home, and this robot goes "Hi! The sun is shining! Everybody is haaappyyy! Smmiiiile!"

      Yes, there's that, and also the fact that psychologists etc. who study happiness will tell you it comes from LACK of distractions -- facing fears, anxieties, etc., and learning deal with them head-on.

      If it helps people to be aware of their moods, that could be a good thing. Try

    • That's not what it's for (Score:5, Funny)

      by Chemisor (97276) on Saturday October 27 2007, @08:13AM (#21139441) Journal
      > then you get into your car to drive home, and this robot goes "Hi! The sun is shining!"

      And now imagine how great it would feel to slug it.

    • Dave: Hi Car.

      Car: Hello Dave.

      Dave: Let's go home. I had a really bad day at work today.

      Car: What can I do to make you happy?

      Dave: How about a blow job on the way home.

      Car: I'm not that kind of car Dave.

      Dave: You do want to make me happy don't you?

      Car: Yes! I am programed to try to make you happy and keep you from being depressed.

      Dave: Well?

      Car: OK Just this one time.

      Dave: Great!
      By the way do you have a vibrate setting?

      Car: You have to promise not

  • Piss you off (Score:3, Insightful)

    by speaker of the truth (1112181) on Saturday October 27 2007, @06:33AM (#21138993)
    I'm guessing 9 times out of 10 this will make someone angrier then they already were. Although at least they won't be depressed!
    • Hi there! This is Eddie your car computer and I just know I'm going to get a kick out of anything you want to do today. Share and enjoy!
      • Hi there! This is Eddie your car computer

        Give it the exact voice from the BBC series and plenty of funny/interesting phrases to say for various situations using HHGTTG references and I'd get a whole bundle of kicks out of having that in my car. It made me smile just thinking about it, that would probably actually work against road rage for me.
    • Back in the 80's there was a brief fad to replace the warning sounds of a car with spoken words. you'd get a car that would repetitively repeat "a door is ajar" when you had the car door open with the keys in the dash.

      It was beyond annoying.

      Eddie Murphy did a pretty good bit on it iirc.
      • I remember renting one of those back in the days. By the time I'd gone around the block to RETURN the damn thing for a mute one, I'd been served with at least 5 or 6 spoken messages. Beyond annoying doesn't even begin to describe how irritating this thing was.

        "door is open", "fasten your seatbelt", "handbrake on" and so on... Had I not been able to return it, I would have prolly taken the loudspeaker apart!

        Now this thing today reminds me of Sirius Cybernetics' happy elevators and doors.

        Wanna make ppl happy?

        • Re:Piss you off (Score:5, Funny)

          by UbuntuDupe (970646) * on Saturday October 27 2007, @07:38AM (#21139237) Journal
          "door is open", "fasten your seatbelt", "handbrake on"

          Okay, I can completely sympathize, but if you routinely drive around without your seatbelt, a door open, and the handbrake engaged, I think you have some more important things to worry about.
          • Okay, I can completely sympathize, but if you routinely drive around without your seatbelt, a door open, and the handbrake engaged, I think you have some more important things to worry about.

            True, but when the damn thing starts "talking" to you when you dare turn the engine on to warm up while taking your coat off with the door open, or if you're simply moving the car from the service area to the parking lot (a mere 10 yards) without putting the seatbelt on, or dare use your handbrake to start uphill with a

            • *Zzzzzt* -Why master, why? (Score:5, Funny)

              by cumin (1141433) on Saturday October 27 2007, @09:35AM (#21139921)

              You can talk to this one, and it responds. There is room here for great use. Let me *borrow* from some other posts:

              • Every time I step into my car, it should try to gauge my mood and normally it should tell me a joke. Jokes get categorized by the personality types that find them funny, so most times, when I get into my car, it has something witty to say that I appreciate.
              • If I'm in a foul mood, it knows the right way to respond. For me, that means no jokes and just a short pithy saying in the tone that one would associate with Batman's butler.
              • If I'm not in a better mood within a couple minutes, it should offer further mood improvement options, based on my tendencies:
                1. If Sir cares for a stoogie, there is a convenience store that sells cigars just to your right in one mile.
                2. Sir might be interested to know there is an electronics store just two miles south of here.
                3. There is a gentleman's club ahead with free steak buffet and cheap liquor. If your majesty cares to indulge, I should be glad to send your bank a request to hold funds beyond $200 this evening and arrange for a cab to pick you up.
                4. The Duke of Earl might be interested to know that his weed supplier Kevin is still out on bond this week. Perhaps I should ring him for you?
              • Finally, there should be a little red button beside the hand break. When I press the button the robot should react as if being electrocuted. Short bursts should produce short whimpers then complaint. Longer bursts should produce howls mingled with sobbing and begging. A really long burst should produce incoherent screaming followed by lights out, no movement and no sound (simulated death.) Bonus points if the robot can simulate the voice of people I've talked to on the phone and answer to their name.

              Sick? Twisted? Maybe, but I suspect it would do wonders for my mood.

              Disclaimer: No, these are not really my tendencies
  • Man this thing might cheer you up for a little while, but the novelty will quickly wear off, especially after you realize how much money you spent on your robot co-pilot.

  • Japanese (Score:3, Insightful)

    by youthoftoday (975074) on Saturday October 27 2007, @06:50AM (#21139059) Homepage Journal
    This seems to be a feature of Japanese (and Chinese) technology, the idea of enforced 'happiness'. Smiling faces everywhere, bright colours garish colours and features. Perhaps this has only limited cultural relevance in the international market?

  • Pivo? (Score:4, Interesting)

    by Aladrin (926209) on Saturday October 27 2007, @06:51AM (#21139065)
    Isn't 'pivo' how you say 'uh oh' in Russian? (I tried to find a copy of the Sealab 2021 'uh oh' song online, but I can't now.)

    The cab that rotates is neat, but it seems it would be easier to just turn the car around than bother spinning the whole cab, driving out, then spinning it back. The tires are neat, but if you have a problem with the mechanism, I bet it's a bitch to find a mechanic that can fix it without charging an arm and a leg.

    Neat car, but I'm betting it stays 'concept' for quite a long time.
    • in Russian Pivo which is pronounced Pivo is Beer.
    • No. Pivo means 'beer'. Which actually would make me pretty happy. Just listening to that sweet 4 letter word....hm, I'll go grab another cold one from the fridge!

  • 'We have data that happy drivers' accident rates are drastically lower than depressed ones, so this robot stays there to make sure the driver is happy always'

    "Driver, it has been noted that you seem to be unhappy, I am now administering a dose of happiness inducer No57, you will be happy citizen, compliance is mandatory."

    "You appear to have taken an unscheduled turn citizen, are you disobeying the Computer? Please note course change to direct you to the nearest termination facility, also note that driving l
    • Awesome Paranoia reference. I played a session this summer, before that I hadn't played it in 15 years.
    • I am very happy friend computer

    • > 'We have data that happy drivers' accident rates are drastically lower than depressed ones, so this robot stays there to make sure the driver is happy always'

      And where, pray tell, did they get this data? Chips implanted into people's brains? Asking people after an accident "Are you happy?"

      The happiest driver is a suicide bomber about to get his 72 virgins. Once the DHS gets this, they'll nuke anyone from orbit who is too happy because they just got a raise, a new baby, a blow job while sitting in

  • Happy drivers are safer (Score:3, Insightful)

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday October 27 2007, @07:02AM (#21139101)
    By the way, did they check happiness before or after accidents? I guess drivers who got home will be happier than those who had an accident..
  • We all know how fast new cars depreciate, and we also know the same is true (even more so) for electronic gadgets. So I predict if this ever goes into production it will be the fastest depreciating vehicle ever offered for sale.

    On the other hand, if the 'robotic head' can be legally used as the 'second person' for the car pool lanes they may be on to something...

  • Been done (Score:4, Insightful)

    by Oligonicella (659917) on Saturday October 27 2007, @07:12AM (#21139127)
    Did no one learn anything from Clippy?

  • Cybersex (Score:5, Funny)

    by g253 (855070) on Saturday October 27 2007, @07:12AM (#21139129) Homepage
    Ok, so how far exactly is this robot willing to go to keep me happy?

  • and even check your e-mail. 'We have data that happy drivers' accident rates are drastically lower than depressed ones

    Checking my emails whilst I drive home isn't going to make me a happier driver, but will probably take my concentration away from that thing I was supposed to be doing. What was that again? Oh yeah, driving my car...

    Driving would probably be safer if it was a bit more like driving, and less like the office.

    Not to mention the fact that driving a Nissan isn't going to put a smile on anybody'

  • "For example, if the driver is irritated it might say 'Hey, you look somehow angry...'"

    "If it's any consolation, my life is great. Babes, bucks, I got it all."

  • New ad slogan: (Score:3, Funny)

    by Chris Mattern (191822) on Saturday October 27 2007, @07:52AM (#21139321)
    "He's your plastic dashboard pal who's fun to be with!"

    Chris Mattern
  • "be nice!"

    "Shut up, stupid robot"

    POW.
  • "Hi! It looks like you're driving an SUV with a cell phone plastered to the side of your head. Would you like help with that?"

  • redundant (Score:3, Interesting)

    by tolomea (1026104) on Saturday October 27 2007, @08:30AM (#21139533)
    the car has a square footprint and the wheels turn through 90deg, by extension it should be trivial to turn the whole car on the spot, so why bother making the cabin independently movable?
  • Sliding in sideways and navigating into a parking spot looking straight at it was quite cool. That, and being able to just stand up and walk straight ahead right out of your car, were cool.

    The robot seemed neat, though I'd prefer a sexy British gal's voice; its voice seems designed to sound like the blue robot cat from the 24th century, Doraemon (which they should license as fast as they darned can). As I got to reading these comments though I liked the idea of slugging it too.

    When I sat in a car once in th
  • This is one of the most perfect examples I have seen of engineers coming up with something undeniably stupid and useless. How the hell is a talking robot going to make someone happy? Unless the driver is mentally retarded or a child, this is not going to work, and the last time I checked they don't let those people drive. This is right up there with internet-connected refrigerators that e-mail you when you are out of milk. Note to engineers: run your ideas through a common sense filter BEFORE you start deve
  • er, uh, sorry, fingers on autopilot there.

    Anyhow, this thing will sell like hot cakes in Russia.

    In Russia, "Pivo" means "beer".

    On the other hand, the "keep the driver happy" robot has one hell of a set of shoes to fill if it's gonna try to keep people as happy as beer.

    -F

  • This car will be released to consumers as soon as they work out a licensing deal with the Hello Kitty people.

  • A geek with a lot of imagination hacks the helper, uses a wig, some silicone, adding some more movement capability, and voila: we have a car with automated blowjobs. A happy end to getting bored in traffic jams. (a lot of accidents will surely follow)

  • Electric Cars (Score:3, Informative)

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday October 27 2007, @10:47AM (#21140357)
    Another motor show, another concept car with useless features. Has anyone noticed that these concept cars mostly never see the day on the road? I'd like to see these electric cars for sale but without the ridiculous design. Can't they just make a normal electric car? It's more like there is a consipiracy or something that the automakers continue to churn out these concept cars that no ordinary people will be willing to buy.

    I can't believe these companies waste so much money on developing hybrids, fuel cells, etc. but don't sell just a simple electric car with better batteries. There's no way the amount of energy generated from a vehicle would be more efficient than by power utility companies. If they are really serious about saving the environment as they claim, they must sell electric cars.
  • Sorry for the French (well, Quebecois...)but it is still worth the watch...

    http://youtube.com/watch?v=Cood3ZnRJk8 [youtube.com]

  • I dont need a machine to make me happy... (Score:3, Funny)

    by AmazingRuss (555076) on Saturday October 27 2007, @02:42PM (#21142051)
    ...when I drive. I NEED a machine to man the chain gun so I can concentrate on maneuvering.
    • I'd like mine to be named Pris

      All Japanese models are named Pris, they always say "Pris calm down".

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