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Humanoid Robots: The Next Frontier in Autonomous Driving?

white and brown human robot illustration

Autonomous software like Tesla’s Full Self Driving (FSD) may revolutionize driving for Tesla owners, but what about everyone else?

A research team in Japan showcased a unique approach to autonomous driving by placing a humanoid robot, named Musashi, behind the wheel of a standard car—one without Tesla’s FSD Beta or any self-driving software.

A Physical Approach to Autonomy

In the demo, Musashi demonstrates its ability to recognize humans, traffic lights, and other vehicles using a movable eye unit. The robot can stop if someone darts in front of the car or if another car honks nearby.

Unlike software-based autonomous systems, Musashi operates the car much like a human driver. It uses articulated fingers to turn the ignition key, pull the handbrake, and activate the turn signals. Musashi also manages real-world driving scenarios, such as recovering from a foot slipping off the pedal. The more it drives, the better it handles the steering wheel, thanks to continuous learning and improved muscle tension control.

Early Development and Future Prospects

Currently, Musashi has only been tested in a small electric vehicle on a closed course. Although still in its early stages, this project highlights a different approach to autonomous driving, one that leverages physical interaction rather than software alone.

While the researchers plan to develop more hardware and software based on these preliminary experiments, Musashi is not ready for real-world driving yet. However, the rise of humanoid robots from various companies suggests that this concept has potential.

Musashi raises an important question about the future of autonomous driving: Are we limited to software solutions like Tesla’s FSD or Mercedes-Benz’s Drive Pilot? Since cars are designed for human drivers, a humanoid robot like Musashi might offer a more intuitive and universally applicable solution for achieving self-driving capabilities—provided you’re comfortable with a robot driver in the seat next to you.

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