Toyota to Launch Sales of 'Kirobo Mini'

Oct 03, 2016 14:04 JST

Source: Toyota Motor Corporation

Presales of Compact Communication Partner to Start at Tokyo and Aichi Car Dealers This Winter

Toyota City, Japan, Oct 03, 2016 - (JCN Newswire) - Toyota Motor Corporation plans to launch sales of its compact and cuddlesome "Kirobo Mini" communication partner through Toyota vehicle dealers across Japan in 2017. The nationwide rollout will be preceded by presales at designated dealers in Tokyo and Aichi Prefecture this winter, for which advanced orders will be taken online. Kiboro Mini is tentatively priced at 39,800 yen (excluding tax).

Kirobo Mini is a miniature communication partner developed to provide companionship. It fits in the palm of the hand and is only 10cm high when seated. It turns its head toward the person speaking and engages in casual conversation(1) while moving its head and hands. Its compact size means it can be taken just about anywhere, helping it to fulfill its role as a cuddly companion always on hand for heart-touching communication.

Kiboro Mini's range of gestures and conversation abilities are mainly made possible by connecting Kirobo Mini via Bluetooth(2) to smartphones installed with a dedicated app. A built-in camera enables Kirobo Mini to recognize people's facial expressions, through which it tries to detect their emotions so that it can accordingly adjust its manner of speaking and moving. Kirobo Mini can also converse based on information drawn from the vehicle or home.

TMC has been aiming to create automobiles that exceed customer expectations and that customers view as "irreplaceable companions". In a similar connection, Kiboro Mini is a manifestation of the Toyota Heart Project, which aims to develop a distinctly humanlike interaction between man and machine in a format different from automobiles based on the same fundamental concept of "Inspiring the Heart, Inspiring You", which Toyota applies to its automobile manufacturing.

By providing people opportunities to live with Kirobo Mini, Toyota hopes to contribute to making life and society more abundant.

Kirobo Mini will be on display at the IT and electronics exhibition "CEATEC(3) JAPAN 2016 'Connecting Society, Creating the Future'" to be held at the Makuhari Messe convention center in Chiba Prefecture from October 4 to October 7. Visitors will be able to experience communicating with Kirobo Mini.

Outline of Kirobo Mini

Capabilities

Kirobo Mini can:

1. Engage in casual conversation, backed by gestures and the ability to respond to user emotions

Kirobo Mini converses while understanding what is being said to it, as well as interprets the facial expressions of the speaker. It adjusts its gestures and tone of voice to match the conversation, and, moreover, makes communication more meaningful by blinking and looking at the person speaking.

2. Grow and provide tailored companionship by remembering user preferences and past events

Kirobo Mini remembers user likes and dislikes and shared travels. It is able to gradually adjust its points of conversation to make them more suitable for the user.

3. Be taken just about anywhere, with its fit-in-the-palm size and seated height of only 10cm

Kirobo Mini fits in the palm of the hand and is only 10cm high when seated. Its compact size means it can be enjoyed in one's home, car or elsewhere.

4. Enhance its conversational ability using information from the vehicle and home

Based on information about the vehicle or home obtained through connected services, Kirobo Mini can provide more-caring comments, such as: "That was a long drive. Good job." or "Welcome home! A warm bath is waiting."(4)

Specifications

- Seated height/weight: 10cm/183g
- Continuous communication time: Approximately 2.5 hours
- Battery charging time: Approximately 3 hours

Production Plant

VAIO Corporation(5)

Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price
Tentative price: 39,800 (excluding tax) (Monthly fee of approximately 300 yen for use of dedicated app.)

Website (Japanese only)

http://toyota.jp/kirobo_mini/

(1) Using standard Japanese
(2) Bluetooth is a registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc.
(3) Combined Exhibition of Advanced Technologies
(4) Function scheduled to be available for vehicles that can use the Kirobo Mini-compatible T-Connect service and through the TSC-HEMS service provided by Toyota Home Corporation.
(5) Main business: Personal computers; located in Azumino City, Nagano Prefecture

Contact:

Toyota Motor Corporation
Public Affairs Division
Global Communications Department
Tel: +81-3-3817-9926

Source: Toyota Motor Corporation
Sectors: Automotive

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