#motobot

We’re approaching the fall motorcycle show season and while most of the industry is focused on next month’s EICMA show, we can’t overlook the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show which begins next week. Naturally, Tokyo is an important show for the Japanese manufacturers, and Yamaha, for one, looks to have a big presence with six models – either concepts or production models – set to make their world premieres in Tokyo.

Kawasaki announced it is working on an artificial intelligence system that would allow a motorcycle to communicate with, and adapt to its rider. The AI would be able to converse with a rider and, using cloud computing and a motorcycle’s electronics, adapt the bike’s settings to the rider’s needs and skills.

Remember the MotoBot, the autonomous motorcycle-riding robot? Yamaha continues to work on MotoBot, to the point where the robot can now ride an YZF-R1M on a race track. That certainly impressed MotoGP star Valentino Rossi who recently checked in with Yamaha’s engineers to see MotoBot in action.