Toyota Develops Essentially A Real-Life ‘Baymax’ To Carry Your Groceries

Image via Toyota Research Institute

Toyota’s new innovation defies all scary notions of robots. Meet Punyo, a soft android that embraces a more human-like approach to interacting with the world. Unlike typical robots that rely on their hands for tasks, Punyo uses its entire body—chest, hips, and arms—to carry and manipulate objects, much like a person might when juggling groceries or moving furniture. 

The cuddly-looking companion is inspired by the Japanese concept of “Punyo,” which conveys softness, cuteness, and resilience, embodying the automaker’s vision for machines that are not only capable but also safe and enjoyable to work with.

Video via Toyota Research Institute

Punyo stands out with its friendly, Baymax-like face and a unique “sweater” made of grippy material equipped with tactile sensors. This allows the robot to “feel” what it’s interacting with, whether a person or an object, enhancing its ability to handle items with care. The humanoid’s design focuses on whole-body manipulation, a method that enables it to manage larger and heavier objects more efficiently than if it were to use hands alone.

Image via Toyota Research Institute

Image via Toyota Research Institute

The robot’s arms feature a series of air-filled bladders that can adjust in pressure to achieve the right level of stiffness, making Punyo adept at gently and effectively interacting with a variety of objects. Instead of conventional grippers, Punyo is equipped with “paws” at the end of its arms—single high-friction latex bubbles with internal cameras. These cameras monitor the deformation of dot patterns inside the bubbles to estimate forces, allowing Punyo to adapt its grip based on what it’s holding.

Image via Punyo

Make no mistake; Punyo isn’t just a softie. Beneath its exterior, it incorporates traditional robotic components, including rigid arms, a torso frame, and a waist actuator. Combining hard and soft robotics offers the best of both worlds: the precision and strength of conventional bots with the flexibility and safety of soft-robotic systems.

Toyota’s researchers are using teleoperation and artificial intelligence learning processes to train Punyo, teaching it to handle a wide range of large objects effectively.

Punyo represents a leap forward in technology of this ilk, proving that a future of robots working alongside humans isn’t all that terrible.

[via New Atlas and Toyota Research Institute, images via Toyota Research Institute]