Although similar in many respects to the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) that appears on a regular basis here in North America, the CEATEC (Combined Exhibition of Advanced Technologies) event in Japan tends to feature a bit more in the way of advanced technology demonstrations at the expense of fewer stereo components, car audio bits and consumer gadgets.

One of the companies that is a regular fixture at CEATEC is Murata Manufacturing, a large Japanese manufacturer of electronic components, sensors and other materials. Murata also has a robotics project of their own: Murata Boy, a bicycle-riding robot developed as a showcase for many of the company’s existing products.

The company demonstrated the latest ieration of their bicycling bot at the recent CEATEC 2006. According to a post by Maryn Williams over at Digital World Tokyo, the intrepid cyclist managed to pedal up an incline unaided, supported by a suite of gyroscopes and other sensors. 

Check out the DWT post and the Murata Boy website for more information. (Source[s]: Digital World Tokyo, CEATEC, Murata Boy) – [Jeff James]