This week Honda unveiled its CES 2018 preview, detailing a four-some of uber cute robotic concepts that it hopes to bring to consumers before long. While Honda is largely known for its automotive wing, the brand has an extensive history in robotics and it’s bringing that expertise to the home. The four-piece CES preview includes a companion robot, a pair of mobility devices and an off-road vehicle.
It’s easy to see why Honda is interested in bringing consumer-grade robotics to your home. With the rise in popularity of Siri, Alexa, HomeKit, and other mediums, the average shopper is becoming more interested in home automation than ever before. Hit the jump to see a video of each new Honda concept in action…
Honda is slated to unveil it four new concepts at CES on January 9th in Las Vegas. Each one demonstrates “Honda’s vision of a society where robotics and AI can assist people in many situations.” Here’s the breakdown on each model:
The 3E-A18 concept is a companion robot that offers real facial feedback for users. It’s designed to interact with its ‘human’ and respond accordingly based on mood and different scenarios.
Honda’s 3E-B1B is a “chair-type” mobility concept that would be used in outdoor scenarios. We’re not sure on the overall size at this time, but it seems to be similar in functionality to a Segway.
3E-C18 is similar to the chair mentioned just above, but it offers storage instead. This seems like some of the autonomous grocery delivery systems that we’ve seen before, and might be the most helpful for consumers right out of the gate.
Finally, and perhaps most anticipated by us at Electronicsforward, is the 3E-D18 autonomous off-road vehicle. Designed for a “broad range of work activities” the idea of having a four-wheeler that drives itself around the farm or wherever is pretty sweet.
We’ll have full coverage on all of Honda’s upcoming autonomous vehicles at CES 2018. As these are only concepts at this time, there’s no guarantee that any of these products will ever officially see the light of day. But one thing is for sure, the potential here has us excited.
[9to5-press-release]
Honda to Introduce 3E Robotics Concept at CES 2018
Honda will unveil its new 3E (Empower, Experience, Empathy) Robotics Concept at CES 2018, demonstrating a range of experimental technologies engineered to advance mobility and make people’s lives better. Expressing a variety of functions and designs, the advanced robotic concepts demonstrate Honda’s vision of a society where robotics and AI can assist people in many situations, such as disaster recovery, recreation and learning from human interaction to become more helpful and empathetic. The Honda press conference is scheduled for January 9, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. PST(LVCC, North Hall – 7923).
As part of the 3E Robotics Concept, Honda will reveal:
- 3E-A18, a companion robotics concept that shows compassion to humans with a variety of facial expressions
- 3E-B18, a chair-type mobility concept designed for casual use in indoor or outdoor spaces
- 3E-C18, a small-sized electric mobility concept with multi-functional cargo space
- 3E-D18, an autonomous off-road vehicle concept with AI designed to support people in a broad range of work activities
In addition to the suite of robotics concepts, Honda will showcase its Mobile Power Pack World, which includes a portable, swappable battery pack for electric vehicles, and a re-charging system for use at home, recreation or during a natural disaster. The Mobile Power Pack World at CES will also exhibit a battery exchanger concept that can store and charge mobile power packs.
Global Innovator Showcase
Committed to creating transformative products through open innovation, Silicon Valley-based Honda Innovations will showcase new Honda Xcelerator partnerships with startups in the Global Innovator Showcase at CES. The Honda Xcelerator partners are:
- BRAIQ bridges the gap between human preferences and artificial intelligence to personalize the driving style of autonomous vehicles.
- DeepMap provides HD maps and real-time localization as a service for autonomous vehicles.
- DynaOptics harnesses the power of free-form optics to bring superior situational awareness and safety to roads.
- Tactual Labs brings real-time human body pose sensing to every surface and voxel.
- WayRay is a Swiss developer of a holographic AR navigation system for advanced connected cars.
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