1. What exactly is the Toyota Partner Robot?
The Partner Robot was designed to enrich society by assisting humans with a variety of activities including mobility, elderly care, general assistance, and automobile manufacturing and nursing and medical care assistance.

Within the last decade, Toyota started developing advanced robots by combining industrial robot technologies with the latest technologies used in automobiles.

Thus, the concept of Toyota’s Partner Robot was created.

2. Who developed the Partner Robot?
The Partner Robot was developed exclusively by Toyota engineers by combining industrial robot technologies with the latest technology used in our automobiles.

Toyota has recently hired three American engineers who will help advance the robot’s capabilities and work closely with our office in Cambridge, Massachusetts, (MIT) and Toyota in Japan.

3. Is the Partner Robot actually playing the trumpet? How does it work?
Yes. The Partner Robot has artificial lips and artificial lungs. The Partner Robot shows how robots can do very sophisticated functions, such as playing a musical instrument with dexterity, including the trumpet.

4. When will robots be available for consumers to purchase? How much would it cost?
Toyota’s goal is to make our robots commercially available to consumers within the next decade. Exact cost is unknown, however it would be affordable.

5. How does the Partner Robot operate?
The Partner Robot is programmed by a group of U.S.-based Toyota engineers.

6. How is automobile technology applied by the Partner Robot?
When the Partner Robot walks, for example, it is using technology used in our vehicles called Vehicle Stability Control (VSC). VSC enables a vehicle to drive on a slippery road without skidding.

By modifying the VSC technology and embedding it into the Partner Robot, it is able to walk in a stable manner – forward and backwards.

7. What kind of work or chores would the Partner Robot perform in the future?
Chores include tidying up, such as cleaning and vacuuming.

8. Robots are being used for automobile manufacturing. Does that mean that robots will replace the team members at Toyota facilities?
Not at all.

Robots are designed to assist our team members working at our manufacturing facilities by lifting heavy objects that may be ergonomically bad for their neck, back or knees.

9. How many other robots does Toyota have? Are they capable of playing any other instruments?
Toyota has many other robots in development. One plays the violin.

10. What is Toyota’s most advanced robot capable of doing? Does Toyota have any robots that talk or communicate with people?
Toyota has recently developed and introduced a robot called Robina, which has improved abilities including autonomous movement and speech recognition technology.

Specifically:

1) It has laser sensors which allow the robot to move to its destination while avoiding obstacles.
2) Manual technology which gives the robot the dexterity required to sign its name and grip other bendable materials.
3) *Nametag recognition, enabling the robot to identify and greet visitors, and verbally communicate for two-way interaction.

*Only able to communicate in Japanese.

11. How long can the Partner Robot operate on its battery?
The Partner Robot’s battery life is short, however Toyota has advanced robots whose battery life is longer, lasting approximately one hour.

(Additional information can be found at www.toyota.co.jp/en)

SOME FACTS ABOUT THE TOYOTA PARTNER ROBOT:

• Toyota is developing Partner Robots to contribute in the following four target fields: nursing and medical care assistance, housekeeping assistance, manufacturing assistance and short-range personal mobility assistance.

• The concept behind the Partner Robot project is the creation of robots that can use tools, assist people, and live in harmony with us.

• The robot was produced by combining industrial robot technologies with the latest control technologies used in automobiles.

• It was developed exclusively by Toyota engineers.

• The Partner Robot was designed to express the Japanese spirit of “wa,” or harmony, as well as the ideal of hospitality that goes hand-in-hand with Japanese culture. To illustrate this, the robot is adorned with a green leaf, a Japanese symbol of peace and harmony.

• Its pleasant expression is meant to convey kindness and friendliness.

• U.S. debut: the robot made its debut in the United States in October, 2006, at the Camry Hybrid line-off ceremony at Toyota’s Georgetown, Kentucky, plant.

• The Toyota Partner Robot, currently, in the United States, plays the trumpet. It has artificial lips and lungs that work together to replicate the vibration of a human mouth. The robot operates the valves on the trumpet with fingers that have human-like dexterity.

• It currently plays 13 tunes, a few of which include Love of the Heart (I Just Called To Say I Love You), What a Wonderful World, an Anime medley, and a Disney medley.

• Height: four feet, nine inches.

• Weight: Approximately 88 pounds (including the trumpet).

• It is the only trumpet-playing robot in the world.

Additional information can be found at www.toyota.co.jp/en.

Hyundai Electric Systems Alabama Inc. (HESAI) is a subsidiary of Hyundai Electro Electric Systems, which is a division Hyundai Heavy Industries based in South Korea. They will build a 220,000 square foot facility that will be located in Montgomery’s Interstate Industrial Park and production is expected to start in early 2012.

“New jobs anywhere today is incredible and HESAI could have chosen any part of the world to locate in, but they chose Montgomery. This is a real tribute to Montgomery’s workforce, the leadership of Mayor Strange, and the Montgomery Chamber economic development team,” stated Ed Castile, AIDT Director.

HESAI is expected to bring 480 jobs to the River Region and hiring will start in late 2010. AIDT will provide employee recruitment, assessment and training for the new workers hired. Other services provided by AIDT will include our Pre-employment Selection System, On the Job Training and all other support services offered to new companies moving to Alabama.

HESAI will manufacture transformers that will be sold in the U.S. and abroad. Starting wages will average around $18 per hour. “These are good solid manufacturing positions coming at a time when they are most needed and they will help bring this area closer to a quicker economic recovery,” Castile stated.

Dr. William O. Blow has served as interim president of Alabama Southern since July of 2009.

Hill noted that Sykes comes highly recommended to the position of president. “I am very pleased to have Dr. Sykes coming on board as the leader of Alabama Southern,” said Hill. “He brings a wealth of knowledge to the position and I know that he will be a great asset to the college and the system.”

Dr. Sykes comes to the system with many years of experience in all levels of education. He has served as a college vice president, a dean of student services, an adjunct and full-time instructor and, most recently, as assistant commissioner for community and junior college relations with the Mississippi Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning. Sykes has Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Education – Physical Education, from Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss. His Doctorate is in Education – School Administration, from Mississippi State University.

“We had 62 applicants for this position and I wanted to be sure that the person chosen was a good fit for the college, the community and the Alabama Community College System,” stated Ella Bell, State Board of Education member, District V. “I am pleased to support the chancellor in her recommendation of Dr. Sykes.”

Alabama Southern Community College serves students in Choctaw, Clarke, and Marengo counties and portions of Monroe and Wilcox counties.

The medical assistant program is intended to prepare students to provide patient care in doctors’ offices, minor emergency centers, long-term care facilities among other medical clinics.

In a press release announcing the new program, Drake State said employment for medical assistants is projected to grow 34 percent by 2018 by the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook.

Students will begin enrolling in the medical assistant program in the fall.

http://blog.al.com/breaking/2010/06/drake_state_launches_medical_a.html

Previous experience in welding or ship fitting is a plus, but not required. Applicants should possess a high school diploma or GED or at least 2 years maritime experience. Applicants should be U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents. There will be a background check (no felonies within the past 7 years) and a pre-employment drug screen also required for both positions.

Desired workplace traits for these positions include those that are dedicated to their team’s success, ability to work in a fast-paced team environment, who will maintain a positive work relationship with fellow employees, who are at work on-time every day, who are available for shift changes as needed, display their best effort every day, follow all safety work rules and procedures, who work well independently or collaboratively and maintain respect in the workplace.
There are physical demands that must be met to successfully perform the essential job functions of these jobs. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of these jobs, the employee is regularly required to stand; have good dexterity; and reach with hands and arms; walk, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl and have the ability to lift 25-50 pounds.

Applicants can apply for the AIDT/Austal pre-employment training program at www.aidt.edu/jobs

State Industrial Relations Director Tom Surtees said Friday that wage and salary employment increased by 13,700 over the month, and has gone up by 44,400 since the first of the year.

The 10.8 percent unemployment figure for May is up from the 9.8 percent rate of May one year ago. But over the last seven months, the rate has remained fairly steady at between 10.9 percent and 11.1 percent, an indication that unemployment in Alabama may have peaked. …

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2010/06/alabamas_unemployment_rate_dro.html

Hosted by Bobby Jon Drinkard, On The Job is produced by AIDT, Alabama’s Workforce Training Institute in cooperation with Alabama Public Television, America’s oldest public television network.

Visit www.OnTheJobTV.org

RTP is a three Phase campus approach:

* ROBOTIC MAINTENANCE TRAINING CENTER – designed for educating and training robotics & automated technologies (Grand Opening September 15, 2010).

* ADVANCED RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER – designed for research and development of ground breaking robotics and automation technologies (Groundbreaking June 22, 2010).

* INTEGRATION AND ENTREPRENEURIAL CENTER – designed to integrate the new technologies into existing companies or grow the new technologies through a manufacturer.

Robotics is a rapidly changing technology that is a part of our everyday lives. It is utilized in everything from automobile assembly, manufacturing, warehousing, inspecting products, detecting bombs and performing intricate surgery. RTP is a state-of-the-art facility that will lead the country in robotics technology training and open up a world of opportunity for Alabama’s workforce.

To find out more about the Alabama Robotics Technology Park please visit the website at www.alabamartp.org and call with any questions you might have regarding how you individually or your company might take advantage of this enormous opportunity.