On the day of the test drive, about how ants return to their burrows, the children said, “They use pheromones as a clue!”. Okawa said, “In the case of desert ants, they can return to their burrows even if the pheromones dry up or the sand is swept away by the wind. They also use the special light produced when sunlight hits the atmosphere as a clue,” introducing the latest findings and explaining the characteristics of ants behind the personal mobility technology developed so far.

Once the test ride began, the children cheered as they saw the personal mobility device automatically return to its original position. The child who took a test ride said, “It was a little scary at first, but it was a lot of fun,” and she was eager to take notes afterward.

When asked the most ingenious part of the system, Okawa said, “I installed the sensor not horizontally, but diagonally upward. As moving the robot, we can collect information in a wide range of space efficiently.” About its fuel, he explained the vehicle's design, saying, “There are two batteries, one for driving and one for sensors, and it is crucial to make the sensor battery last longer to avoid danger.”

This is the second time that CAIV has held a tour for the elementary school students, and we will continue to provide such learning events for them.