Murata and Kowa to Develop Innovative Electric Walking Assist Car

By partnering with Kowa, Murata Manufacturing will create a personalized Electric Walking Assist Car, dubbed "KeePace," which is being represented as an "Electric Walking Assist Car".

There is drastic improvement in uphill mobility support and turning functions owing to the advances in "assist control systems" that integrate Murata's inverted pendulum control technology, proprietary MEMS gyro sensor and inclinometers.

Using gyro sensors-based inverted pendulum control technology, Murata's technological PR robots such as the "MURATA BOY" bicycle-riding robot and "MURATA GIRL" unicycle-riding robot can effectively detect the inclination of the robot body to attain "stopping without falling over," where the robot remains stable. Based on this technology, the company demonstrated a concept model of an Electric Walking Assist Car at CEATEC JAPAN 2011. Kowa has achieved a 50% share of Japan's market for Electric Walking Assist Car to be used as a personalized transport vehicle. "Assist control systems" have in-built Murata's MEMS gyro sensors and inclinometers and the inverted pendulum control technology for enhanced feature, performance and compact size.

MEMS gyros sensor is an angular speed sensor that identifies any alterations in inclination and curvature. When used in car navigation systems, it can detect the car's present position by tracking the vehicle’s direction of movement. It is also used for remote control-based camera shake compensation and sensing motion.

Inclinometers are sensors that measures angles of inclination. The Murata Electronics-made inclinometers have been featured in the KeePace. This product ensures high practicability, high accuracy, and high reliability and can be effectively used in automotive systems.

Inverted pendulum control technology is a balance control technology that eliminates tip-over by the robot's action.

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