Yamaha unveiled a Humanoid Motorcycle-riding Robot ‘Motobot’ in the Tokyo Motor Show 2015

Yamaha was surprised at the 44th Tokyo Motor Show 2015 yesterday when it showed a motorcycle-riding robot along with images showing the robot riding Yamaha’s 1000cc R1M.   

The motorcycle-riding humanoid is part of an R&D effort aimed at creating advanced rider safety and rider-support systems.  

Yamaha’s humanoid motorcycle-riding robot Motobot (Image credit: Yamaha)  

Patrick George wrote in Lanesplitter-Jalopnik on Wednesday: “At the Tokyo Motor Show today, Yamaha dropped a bombshell on both the bike world and humanity in general with Motobot: the motorcycle-riding robot that’s not as fast as a human being yet. One day it aims to be,” reported Techxplore.  

This is an autonomous motorcycle-riding humanoid robot built around a fusion of Yamaha’s motorcycle and robotics technology. R&D is currently underway with the goal of developing the robot to ride an unmodified motorcycle on a racetrack at more than 200 km/h.   

The task of controlling the complex motions of a motorcycle at high speeds requires a variety of control systems that must function with a high degree of accuracy.

Yamaha’s press release said they want to apply the fundamental technology and know-how gained in the process of this challenge toward creating advanced rider safety and rider-support systems and to put them to use in their current businesses, as well as using them to pioneer new lines of business.