Murata has teamed up with Kowa Co., Ltd., to develop a personalized Electric Walking Assist Car

Murata's technological PR robots — the MURATA BOY bicycle-riding robot and MURATA GIRL unicycle-riding robot — use inverted pendulum control technology centered on gyro sensors to detect the inclination of the robot body to achieve stopping without falling over, where the robot comes to a standstill without toppling over. The company applied this technology and exhibited a concept model of an Electric Walking Assist Car at last year's CEATEC JAPAN 2011. Now it has worked on the joint development of this kind of vehicle with Kowa Co., Ltd., which has cornered a 50% share of Japan's market for Electric Walking Assist Car for the elderly and handicapped, as a personalized transport vehicle designed to be used by the elderly and the handicapped who have problems walking. Incorporated in the assist control systems, which are a Murata core technology, are Murata's MEMS gyro sensors and inclinometers and the inverted pendulum control technology that makes use of these sensors, and by the optimal design of the drive mechanism and control units, a smaller size has been achieved while the uphill mobility support and turning functions have been significantly enhanced.

Mr. Hideharu Ieki, Executive Vice President of Murata Manufacturing says we believe that there is still plenty of room for electronics to find uses in nursing care and welfare equipment. We at Murata are hoping to move our products onto the market with all due speed as an example of being in the vanguard of the health care field to which Murata is currently paying a great deal of attention.

Terminology & On-board sensors products

*1

MEMS gyros sensor:

This angular speed sensor detects changes in inclination and curvature. In car navigation systems, it serves to identify the car's present position by detecting changes in the direction in which the vehicle is moving. Elsewhere, it is also being used for camera shake compensation and sensing motion using remote control.

*2

Inclinometers:

This sensor measures angles of inclination. The inclinometers made by Murata Electronics Oy (formerly VTI) is featured in the KeePace. This product features (1) high accuracy, (2) high reliability and (3) high practicability. It is mainly used in forklift trucks, cranes and other construction equipment, leveling devices for measuring horizontality on construction sites and measuring systems (artificial horizons) in aircraft.

*3

Inverted pendulum control technology:

This balance control technology prevents tip-over by the robot's sensing its own inclination and then moving the body in the direction in which it will tip over.