We’re always caught slightly off-guard when major Asian electronics companies introduce a new robot with virtually zero warning, like Toyota just did with their Human Support Robot, or HSR. Designed to assist disabled people, the HSR looks like it might be good for all kinds of household tasks whether you’re disabled or not.

There isn’t a heck of a lot of information beyond what Toyota provided in their (translated) press release, but here’s what we know: the HSR has a tablet for a head that can be used for telepresence or as a graphical interface, as with Ava. The base is mobile, with a PR2-style articulated torso that can extend from about half a meter in height up to just under a meter and a half. It sort of looks like there’s an Xtion in the head, but we’re not sure what other sensors might be in there as well. Top speed is 3 kph, and the HSR can make it over 9mm obstacles and climb slopes of 5 degrees. [read more..]