Next Generation Robot Industry in Japan & in Osaka

Minoru Asada1,2 and Shu Ishiguro3

1Graduate School of Eng., Osaka University2JST ERATO Asada Project3Robot Laboratory@OSAKA

13-15 December, 2010Multipurpose Hall, Bibliotheca Alexandrina

Biorobotics Workshop

Contents1. Summary for Next Generation Robotics

Industry in Japan2. NGR Industry in Osaka

a) Why Osaka?b) The role and function of Robot Laboratoryc) Examples of health care, nursing care and

medical service system integrating RT

Aging Society in JAPAN

Age of 65 or older

Age of 15-64

Age of 14 or younger

EstimatesActual

(in Thousand)

Higher CaseMedium CaseLower Case

（ Year）

Population

Data : Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, Government of Japan

Trends in Percentage of the Elderly in the World

http://www8.cao.go.jp/kourei/english/annualreport/2006/c1-1.pdf

Report by the Robot Industry Policy CommitteeMarch 25, 2009

Building a Safe and Secure Social System Incorporating the Coexistence of Humans and Robots, in the light of Japan’s aging population and falling birthrate

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) announced a report compiled by the Robot Industry Policy Committee. With the aim of accelerating the promotion of commercialization of robots that are useful in various fields, such as nursing care and welfare, the report proposes measures to foster technological and business development, ensure the safety of robots, and establish safety rules.

http://www.meti.go.jp/english/press/data/20090325_01.html

Report by the Robot Industry Policy CommitteeMarch 25, 2009

1. Faced with the major challenges of the aging of society, the falling birthrate and the declining population, Japan sees an increasing need to utilize robots in fields such as nursing care and welfare. Under such circumstances, government councils such as the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy and the Council for Science and Technology Policy are focusing on robots as a priority issue. With such political significance of robots, METI is advancing technological development and improvement of the robot market environment, which are slated as two pillars of its robot industry policy

http://www.meti.go.jp/english/press/data/20090325_01.html

Report by the Robot Industry Policy CommitteeMarch 25, 2009

2. The Manufacturing Industries Bureau established the Robot Industry Policy Committee (Chair: Hirofumi Miura, President of Kogakuin University) in September 2008 in cooperation with related ministries and with the participation of a wide range of parties, including robot manufacturers, users, and service providers. With the aim of accelerating the promotion of commercialization of robots that are useful in various fields, such as nursing care and welfare, the committee has held five meetings since then and discussed measures to foster technological and business development, ensure the safety of robots, and establish safety rules. The results have been compiled into a report and announced.

http://www.meti.go.jp/english/press/data/20090325_01.html

Source : National Tax Agency, Government of Japan 　（ http://www.nta.go.jp/shiraberu/ippanjoho/gakushu/nyumon/page11.html ）

2000 2050

Aging Society in JAPAN

＋ Life Support Robot

20502000

Robots May Help Aging Society in Japan

Summary for NGR Industry in Japan (1) METI is expecting the Japanese Robot

industry to grow to 9.7 trillion yen by 2035 from the current approx. 700 billion yen. Having said that the number reflects estimate sales of robot hardware. What is important 　　 here is that the new business generated by RT which is

not reflected to those numbers.

http://www.meti.go.jp/english/press/data/20100423_01.html

Summary for NGR Industry in Japan (2)New business can be generated by three ways:

1. Advancing functions and/or optimization (personalization, context-awareness, etc.) of existing products like automobiles, electronic/information devices by incorporation of RT

2. Innovation of space system/infrastructure by integrating RT;

3. Service innovation by process reengineering with application of RT.

Those businesses will then lead to development of hit products in “the next generation robot” in regard to highly integrated RT system.

Summary for NGR Industry in Japan (3)Three key points in new RT-integrated

businesses:1. Designing cooperation system with human in

work places2. Development of service innovation through

service process reengineering achieved by collaboration between service providers (acting as leading user of RT) and RT developing makers

3. Designing dual structure system which consists of “robotized space/infrastructure” and “robot that serves as a terminal to compose the space/infrastructure”

Summary for NGR Industry in Japan (4)In addition to the business approaches and

models mentioned above, diffusion of the next generation robot hardware requires:

1. Legislations of standards and laws concerning safety issues

2. Deregulation and/or improvement of regulations (eg., The Road Traffic Act and Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, etc.) which restrict practices of the next generation robots as there is no regulations unique to robots

3. Redesigning social system supposing diffusion of the next generation robot

4. Large capital inputs and/or emergence of large company players (eg., Panasonic and Toyota have officially announced for their emergences)

Type of Service Robot１． Communication and Entertainment２． Mobile Robot with Manipulation ( human operating ）

３． Mobile Robot with Manipulation （ Autonomous )４． Wearable/ Heavy Contact５． Human boarded type６． Multipurpose Humanoid

Characteristics (from the viewpoint

of Man-Machine interaction Safety) １． Contact Frequency２． Autonomy３． Familiarity Level of Operator

Classification of ServiceRobot by “Robot IndustryPolicy Council”

R&D Project on Human- Machine Safety funded by METI(2009-2014)

Practical Application of Home-use Robot Project

①R&D Subject 1R&D of Safety verification method for life-supporting robot

② R&D Subject 2Development of mobile manipulation type (mainly human operating) life-supporting robot incorporating safety technology

③ R&D Subject 3 Development of mobile manipulation type (mainly self-operating)

life-supporting robot incorporating safety technology

④ R&D Subject 4Development of wearable life-supporting robot applying safety technology

⑤ R&D Subject 5Human boarded life-supporting robot with application of safety technology

The example of Practical Application of Home-use Robot Project ②

Decreasing risks arising due to operational error of robot that supports riding/ mobility by integratingbed and wheelchair

Realizing riding/mobile robot system which enables autonomous/nursing care support for elderly and those in need of nursing care

Deploy to medical and welfare institution and home

Image of riding / locomotion supporting robot system challenges

●Research theme: Development of riding/locomotion supporting robot system introducing Safety

●Commission to: Panasonic, National Rehabilitation Center

• Operating support technology• Safety transformation/manipulation technology• Self-evaluating technology of robot system• Research and Development of usability• Safe environment sensing technology• Path finding design

Achievement

The example of Practical Application of Home-use Robot Project ④

Research theme: Development of HAL, wearable life-supporting robot applying safety technology

Research theme: Development of HAL, wearable life-supporting robot applying safety technology

Research theme: Development of HAL, wearable life-supporting robot applying safety technology

Challenges

achievement

challenges

Realizing wearable robot which supports the elderly and those who need nursing care in upper body motions (eating, gripping), the lower body motions (stand up/sitting down, walking) and the whole body motion (heavy duty)

●Research theme: Development of HAL, wearable life-supporting robot applying safety technology

●Commission to: CYBERDYNE, Tsukuba University

Keeping up with maintenance rules and decreasing operational risks of wearable robots that expands, reinforces and supports physical strength

• Control Technology• Safety management technology• Self-evaluation technology

Life supporting to the elderly and handicapped(supporting the upper / lower body motion)

The example of Practical Application of Home-use Robot Project ⑤

achievement

Establishing safety function when ride type robot malfunctions

• Executing safety planning by risk assessment• Examining safety evaluation considering physical feature of the elderly• Developing software to stop robot safely and surely when malfunctions

Realizing ride type robot that can be used at Medical site by installing safety software

eg. mobility support in Hospital

Research theme: Development of safety mechanism and risk assessment of ride type life-supporting robot with application of safety technology

Commission to: Toyota Motor Corporation, National Center of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Four Link Systemschallenges

Why Osaka? A number of influential colleges and institutions

engaged in RT-related leading-edge researches Concentration of many small-to-medium size

company groups having manufacturing technologies and world renowned appliance and electronic device giant corporations

Megalopolis with 2.6 million population Strategic approach to promote robot industry

clustering cooperating with local government, universities and local industries

Establishment of core base to create industry cluster: Robot Laboratory

Very large scale development of urban renewal integrating RT and ubiquitous technology

Educate M

arket

Aggregate Related Companies

Generate K

nowledge by

Market ↔

Product/S

ervice

Arrange Competitive Circumstances

Support and facilitateSupport and facilitate1.To test prototypes in the market1.To test prototypes in the market2.Network of companies : 2.Network of companies : RooBORooBO3.To incubate venture companies3.To incubate venture companies4.To foster entrepreneurship 4.To foster entrepreneurship 5.To demonstrate and promote new products5.To demonstrate and promote new products

Approach for NGR industry cluster in Osaka

ＲｏｏＢＯRobot

Laboratory PR Market

ProposalPrototype

Member Companies

Get an OrderCoordinate

Next Generation Robot Development Company Network

432 member companies

Plan, propose and develop the new idea of Robot

Fulfill the customer’s needs by integrating each technologies

Large Scale Urban Renewal ProjectIn Osaka RoboCity CoRE!-Started from Apr. 2007 and open in 2013-One of the central facilities is “RoboCity CoRE”, the center of R&D and incubation of next generation robotics business-RT will be built into its infrastructure

Robot Renaissance from OsakaRoboCity CoRE Project

Minoru AsadaGraduate School of Eng. Osaka University

JST ERATO Asada SI Project LeaderFormer President of RoboCup Federation

Biorobotics Workshop

13-15 December, 2010Multipurpose Hall, Bibliotheca Alexandrina

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/robotics/2007-06-08-child-robot_N.htm

Outline of my talk1. Overview of Osaka Project

Area Design concept

2. RoboCity CoRE an inner city ICRT base Facilities

Now, our dream comes true in 2013!

• North of JR Osaka Station.

• Whole area 24ha• The first zone to be

developed A-B-C blocks.

• B-block Knowledge Capital Zone including RoboCity CoRE

JR Osakastation

Osaka RenaissanceThe Knowledge-Capital Project

http://www.osakacity.or.jp/naming/box/chirashi.pdf

Osaka RenaissanceRoboCity CoRE Project

Osaka Station North District Phase 1 Development Area ProjectBlock A Block B Block C

Location Ofuka-cho, Kita-ku, Osaka

Site area 10,571m2 22,680m2 4,666m2Total floor area 約 187,800m2 295,100m2 73,800m2

Offices 236,800m2Commercial facilities 80,700m2Knowledge Capital 88,200m2Hotel, Serviced apartments 38,900m2Condominiums 65,400m2

Floor area ratio 1600 ％ 1150 ％ 1150 ％ 

http://kita-yard.com/en/outline/index.html

Osaka RenaissanceRoboCity CoRE Project

http://kita-yard.com/en/outline/index.html

Osaka RenaissanceThe Knowledge-Capital Project

Osaka RenaissanceThe Knowledge-Capital Project

Osaka Renaissance

The Knowledge-Capital Project

Block A, at the entrance to the district, will boast some of the largest-scale and state of the art office buildings together with lifestyle-related commercial facilities within Kansai.

Centered on the low-rise Knowledge-Capital, this block will contain similar offices and commercial facilities to those of Block A, with the addition of world-level hotel/Serviced Apartments and Convention Center.

These high-quality condominiums surrounded by greenery and with excellent amenities, offer a hitherto unseen urban residential lifestyle.

http://kita-yard.com/en/master/index.html

Project Outline

Outline of my talk1. Overview of Osaka Project

Area Design concept

2. RoboCity CoRE an inner city ICRT base Facilities

Robot Market in Future60 billion EUR

personal

Medical/carePublic

Biomanufacturing

From Astro Boy to a new concept of future robots

• Osamu Tezuka, who graduated Osaka University and is known as the "god of manga,“ created Astro Boy that has been giving so much influence onto Japanese robotics researchers.

• Now. it’s time to make paradigm shift from Astro Boy to a new concept of future robotics.

New Robotics• New definition

→ 　 artifacts that live together, coexist, and collaborate with human beings.

• Science, Education, and Industrialization generation of new market!

RoboCity CoRE: A Downtown ICRT Base

RoboCity Center of RT Experiments

• The basic concept of RoboCup• International joint research• A landmark project: sharing the dream• Open to different fields, open to the public

• Currently, once a year.Currently, once a year.• A natural extension of RoboCup is to have a A natural extension of RoboCup is to have a

permanent place to deploy our activities!permanent place to deploy our activities!

RoboCity Center of RT ExperimentsRoboCity CoRE

RoboCity CoRE: A Downtown ICRT Base

• Downtown labs for symbiotic experiments with Downtown labs for symbiotic experiments with robots, partners for our future.robots, partners for our future.

• A single global ICRT base dedicated to progress in A single global ICRT base dedicated to progress in robotics research, industrialization, and education.robotics research, industrialization, and education.

What Is RoboCity CoRE?• Open to the public: researchers, artists,

companies, and ordinary citizens interact with each other to forge new ideas. developing science, technology, and culture

• CoRE: a new cultural icon for the future: a high-tech, ecological city.

Future Life Showroom• Life space with the most advanced Life space with the most advanced

ICRT prototypes open to all visitors.ICRT prototypes open to all visitors.• Offices, residences, and shops Offices, residences, and shops

• A kind of entertainment for visitors A kind of entertainment for visitors to enjoy the experience of future life.to enjoy the experience of future life.

• ICRT experiments for venture ICRT experiments for venture businesses to explore new markets businesses to explore new markets 　　　　

through immediate feedback.through immediate feedback.

• A new physical site where all kinds of ICRT A new physical site where all kinds of ICRT content are collected to stimulate dialogue content are collected to stimulate dialogue among visitors and researchers of different among visitors and researchers of different fields.fields.

• A core space that stimulates the creation A core space that stimulates the creation of new content and provides an ICRT of new content and provides an ICRT archive. archive.

• Meeting rooms for sharing information on Meeting rooms for sharing information on research, education, and business research, education, and business activities.activities.

Robot Design Factory

ICRT experiment field for safety certification

• ICRT ICRT experiment experiment field for safety field for safety certification.certification.

• Carrying out Carrying out necessary necessary safety checks safety checks for ICRT for ICRT products to be products to be introduced introduced to the market.to the market.

STAGE 3bumps

outdoor stage

STAGE 2

entrance

networked device

electronic marker suspension

STAGE 1

power cable

furniture

ordinary person

stairs

STAGE 3bumps

outdoor stage

STAGE 2

entrance

networked device

electronic marker suspension

STAGE 1

power cable

furniture

ordinary person

stairs

RoboCup @ RoboCity CoRE

RoboCup @ RoboCity CoRE

Cyber Art FestivalCyber Art Festival

More practical experiments A New Project for Unconscious Sensing

(Common Network Platforms for Robots)1. Masahiro Shiomi, Takayuki Kanda, Hiroshi

Ishiguro, and Norihiro Hagita, “Interactive Humanoid Robots for a Science Museum,” IEEE Intelligent Systems, vol. 22, no. 2, pp. 25-32, Mar/Apr, 2007.

2. Shiomi, Kanda, Miyashita, Nishio, Ishiguro, Hagita, 2008, “Experiments @ Universal City Walk” [unpublished]

Robots need to identifypeople’s position

Environments with Humans

Need to give meaningsto space and behavior

ID:875Position:100, 10, 0.5

ID:12013Position:60,350,1.2

However, only positions are not enough

Hanako 「 Busy place 」「 Stopping 」

Taro「 Busy place 」「 Running 」

Talk & Navigation Warn

Structuring Environmental Information

Human Positioning System Prototype

Human ID/position measurementby RFID-tag

Human position measurementby multiple cameras

HumanID/positionmeasurementby GPS(outdoor)

indoor (where robots provide services)

Integrate/StoreID & position

Human position measurementby Laser Range Finder

outdoor

Experimental Field 1: Osaka Science Museum

Let’s play with Robovies

52

System Configuration• Two Robovie II’s/M’s• 16 RFID tag Readers and 400 RFID tags to

visitors• Two stationary cameras in ceiling• Four video cameras for monitoring • Registration in entrance

View every exhibits

Example of Behavioral Primitive

Stay long on entranceand robot exhibit

Experimental Field 2 ： A Shopping Mall

Universal City Walk in Osaka (Jan., 2008 ～ )

Infrastructure for positioning the visitors

TV cameras

LRF

Summary

• RoboCup: an international joint research project sharing the common goal.

• New robotics: artifacts that live together and

collaborate with human beings.

• RoboCity CoRE: an inner city RT base to promote new markets.

Thank you for your attention!