Retrofitting the future
August is the month for remembering the past in Japan -- the end of World War II and the spirits of departed relatives in the Obon observances. But Japanese are also busily preparing for their collective robotic future, as seen in two recent news items.
The government formally announced its plan to honor promising robots, with technocrats in the super-powerful Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry establishing a Robot Award to distinguish machines that will be tomorrow's market leaders. There will be specific categories in the accolade to be presented at the end of the year, namely: robots made by small and midsize firms, service robots, industrial robots and specialty robots like rescue machines. Companies, schools and individuals can apply.
Meanwhile, the University of Tokyo said it has teamed up with seven firms including Toyota Motor and Matsushita Electric Industrial to develop next-generation service robots to help the elderly in a long-term project that will invest up to 1 billion yen annually. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology will foot half the bill. Specific goals include robots that can tidy up a room by 2008, make beds by 2013, and carrying elderly people by 2016. Robots that can help old folks cross busy intersections is another goal. (The project is known as IRT, a meta-acronym for IT and RT, respectively information and robot technologies.)
No word yet on whether Toyota will be mass-producing companionbots for lonely oldsters.
The government formally announced its plan to honor promising robots, with technocrats in the super-powerful Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry establishing a Robot Award to distinguish machines that will be tomorrow's market leaders. There will be specific categories in the accolade to be presented at the end of the year, namely: robots made by small and midsize firms, service robots, industrial robots and specialty robots like rescue machines. Companies, schools and individuals can apply.
Meanwhile, the University of Tokyo said it has teamed up with seven firms including Toyota Motor and Matsushita Electric Industrial to develop next-generation service robots to help the elderly in a long-term project that will invest up to 1 billion yen annually. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology will foot half the bill. Specific goals include robots that can tidy up a room by 2008, make beds by 2013, and carrying elderly people by 2016. Robots that can help old folks cross busy intersections is another goal. (The project is known as IRT, a meta-acronym for IT and RT, respectively information and robot technologies.)
No word yet on whether Toyota will be mass-producing companionbots for lonely oldsters.
"Are there female robots? Because the possibilities are limitless!"
Woody Allen, Sleeper
posted by Tim at 10:12 PM
2 Comments:
I would very much like a batch of robotic litter-bearers.
I would very much like a batch of robot book reviewers.
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