Yamaha unveiled the "Motobot" at the Tokyo Motor Show on Wednesday. According to the company, it's an "autonomous motorcycle-riding humanoid robot built around a fusion of Yamaha's motorcycle and robotics technology".
It adds: "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."
It remains to be seen if Motobot does ultimately surpass Rossi, who currently rides for Movistar Yamaha MotoGP. With one race left in the 2015 season, he's leading the title chase, with a seven point advantage over team-mate Jorge Lorenzo.
The world has been lacking motorcyclists with even less fear of death.
(Score: 2, Funny) by throwaway28 on Sunday November 01 2015, @11:58PM
Most recent similar work I've seen, was the ghostrider entry to the first darpa race (example: http://archive.darpa.mil/grandchallenge05/TechPapers/BlueTeam.pdf [darpa.mil] ), which tended to crash a lot, and never entered the main race.
Calling this a humanoid robot, seems a bit of a stretch. Notice how the knees and elbows don't bend.
As an autonomous motorcycle, the aesthetics are disappointing. Too shiny. Not enough exposed cables, duct tape, and hastily welded angle iron. A prototype should look like a prototype; not like a piece of junk from the art department.