
19 June 2009 17:29 GMT / By Duncan Geere
Murata Corporation, which normally makes capacitors, sensors and communication modules for circuits, has decided that the best use of its time is to build a unicycling robot.After seeing the adorable thing, we couldn't disagree. Murata Girl is an adept balancer, and won't fall down while pootling around on one wheel. A series of "Murata Girl Facts" are provided:
She's 50cm high and weighs 5kg. Her birthday is 23 Sept, and she's a Virgo. Her favourite pastime is "Practising riding her unicycle at the park", and she's the younger cousin on the father's side of Murata's other robot - Murata Boy. Her personality is listed as "Physically active but shy".
Murata has been using Murata Boy (who employs a regular bicycle) to promote science education in schools, and says that Murata Girl represents the foundation of the company's "monozukuri".
If you're wondering, Google tells us that "monozukuri" translates to something like "having the spirit to produce excellent products and the ability to constantly improve a production system and process". How wonderfully Japanese. Gadgets, Robots, Murata, Photos



Is Facebook about to buy Opera to create own Facebook browser? EXCLUSIVE: Pocket-lint source tells us "yes"
Which smartphone is best for the sun? Screens for the Summer
Batman Nokia Lumia 900: Limited edition phone heading to UK Who are you? I'm Batman
Jony Ive: Next Apple product is our most important and best work yet Better than iPod, iPad and iPhone?
Dragon's Dogma Adventure time
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Future Soldier Roger likes a Tango at 12 o'clock
Canon EOS 5D MK III It's a hat-trick
Porsche 911 Carrera (991) 2012 pictures and hands-on WANT
Robert Moog Google doodle best yet, even better than Les Paul Synthesizer synthesiser
Microsoft Office coming to iPad and Android tablets this November A change of heart?
APP OF THE DAY: Mini Motor review (Android, iPhone and iPad) Top-down. Top app.
Toshiba AT300: The quad-core 10.1-inch ICS Android tablet UPDATE: Pricing unveiled
Sega serves up Virtua Tennis Challenge on the iPad and iPhone Smash-ing
APP OF THE DAY: Wyse PocketCloud Remote (Android) Work on your PC from anywhere in the world
Free Wi-Fi? Then give us your dog poo Dirt cheap
Olympus OM-D E-M5 review
The compact system camera to beat all others?
Nokia Lumia 900 review
Is big beautiful?
HTC One V review
V for victory?
Huawei Ascend G300 review
Big bang for your hundred quid
FIFA 12: UEFA Euro 2012 review
Lacks polish, if not the Polish
Asus Transformer Pad TF300T review
Transforms your money in to a great tablet
Nikon Coolpix P510 review
Does the P510 zoom beyond expectations?
Fujifilm X-Pro1 review
Like a Leica
Volkswagen Beetle Design 1.2TSi DSG review
The bug is back. Again.
BlackBerry Curve 9320 review
A BB for beginners?
Fujifilm FinePix HS30EXR review
Can Fujifilm’s latest put the ‘super’ in superzoom?
HP Envy 14 Spectre review
The Ultrabook that isn't an Ultrabook
The Walking Dead: The Game review
Fleshed out zombie bonanza
Sony Cyber-shot HX200V review
Superzoom master keeps the bar high