Kansai Consul Invitation Reception 2011

Next Generation Robotics

Industry in Japan and in Osaka
-Let’s cooperate with us to create new industry

Oct.21 2010
Robot Laboratory

Shu Ishiguro
Contents
1. Background and overview on Robot and
its industry in Japan
2. Next Generation Robotics Industry in
Osaka
- Why Osaka?
- Some examples
- The role and function of Robot Laboratory
 Industrial Robot Industry
10,000
14

12
Japan is the leading 10

country of shipping 台
数 8
その他 Other

（ ）
万

and operating units 台 6

4
日本

78% 78% 70% 72% 71% Japan

of industrial robot. 2 61% 71%

0
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Shipping Number and Share

Japan

Europe

US
Asia except Japan
Operating Unit Share of Operating Unit
What is Next Generation Robot ?
A Next Generation Robot is…
“Not conventional industrial robot”

A System integrating sensing devices,

information processing technology
(AI) and motion control

-A Humanoid is a classic “robot”. However the form of a robot is not

defined, i.e. a ”house”, ”building” and “city” can be a next generation
robot if the three component technologies are embedded in it.
-In many conventional products “robotization” has started.
The main reasons for focusing on NGR
industry in Japan

1. Low birth rate and Increase of elderly

population
2. Low productivity of services in Japan
despite increase of importance of service
sector
3. Searching for the next big industry domain
after automobiles and electric appliances as
a next manufacturing industry
The main reason for focusing on NGR industry
Status of Aging and Low Birth Rate Society in Japan
Population:Thousand

65 - 74 year-old population

Over 75 year-old population rate

Over 75 year-old population

 The main reason for focusing on NGR industry

Service sector in Japan

 Share of employment in service sector in Japan ： 75%
 More than 70% of GDP is generated from service sector
 Productivity of service US vs Japan 100 : 63

Primary Sector Manufacturing Service Sector

Change in the share of employment in Japan

The main reason for focusing on NGR industry

Productivity of Service Industry

Japan vs Europe Japan vs US

Europe US
Market Forecast of Robotics Industry in Japan

Tril. Yen

Service

Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

RT Integrating Products

Industrial Robot
 Steps for growth of Next Generation Robotics Industry

Next Generation Industrial Robot

RT will be incorporated into all
Incorporating RT into existing products
the electronic appliances, automobiles

RT-infrastructure / RT-space
Embedding RT into space / infrastructure development business

Innovative service providers

Service innovation by integrating RT
in many service industries with RT

Service Robot hardware business Advanced service robot

like humanoid
 Typical structure of NGR business between players
Integrator of RT

Exchange info/
Developer of RT
collaborate

System Integrator Module maker

End User
Customized Create Supply module
System business
Co-create value model
/Verify customer
needs Component maker
Business Producer/ Outsourcing
Architect production
Provide service System
Spec.
Provide seeds
Create /Cooperative
business Supply module Development
model Create
Service Provider business
model
Research Inst.
Deliver standard system Deliver standard system
Maintenance / deliver Maintenance / deliver related
related goods goods
Assembler
Non-RT-Assembler RT-Assembler
House Builder Robot maker
General Contractor Auto maker
Electronic Appliance maker
User of RT © Shu Ishiguro
The diffusion of Service
Robot and requirement
 Type of Service Robot
１． Communication and
Entertainment
２． Mobile Robot for
Working （ Control type ）
３． Mobile Robot for
Working （ Autonomous
type)
４． Wearable/ Heavy
Contact
５． Ride type
６． Multipurpose Humanoid
Characteristics (from the viewpoint
of Man-Machine interaction Safety)
１． Contact Density
２． Autonomy
３． Familiarity Level of
Operator

Classification of Service
Robot by “Robot Industry
Policy Council”
Service Robots in the Strategic Development of
Advanced Robot Element Technologies Project
Fujitsu Limited Murata Machinery, Ltd.

Toshiba Corporation
Tohoku Univ.
The example of Practical Application of
Home-use Robot Project
●Research theme: Development of riding/locomotion supporting
robot system introducing Safety
●Commission to: Panasonic, National Rehabilitation Center
Image of riding / locomotion supporting robot system
challenges
Decreasing risks arising due to operational error
of robot that supports riding/ mobility by integrating
bed and wheelchair

• 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
Deploy to medical and welfare
institution and home

Achievement

Realizing riding/mobile robot system which enables autonomous/

nursing care support for elderly and those in need of nursing care
(c) Shu Ishiguro
Examples of care robot system in Osaka area

Wearable Robot System for supporting rehabilitation

◇Activelink Co.,Ltd. (spin-off venture company of Panasonic)

Assist muscle by controlling air pressure

17
Examples of care robot system in Osaka area

Transport Robot in the Hospital

◇Murata Machinery, Ltd.

Care staff can order to carry heavy stuff,

For compensating current easy but indispensable medicines, etc. on the wagon anywhere
task that care staff have to do. in the hospital.
The robot can avoid obstacles and people
autonomously.
 Requirement for diffusion of Service Robots

1. Legislations of standards and laws concerning safety

issues
2. Deregulation and 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)
Osaka is the leading region of NGR industrialization
in Japan.

NGR Industrialization of Local Region: Osaka City, Kobe

City, Fukuoka City, Kita-Kyushu City, Kanagawa Pref.,
Kawasaki City, Gifu Pref., Nagoya City, Toyama Pref.,
Tsukuba City
 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
Three Focus Areas of
Osaka’s Next-Generation Robot Industry
Robotics technologies help solving
various social issues in the world
Care/Welfare Especially focused on
Medical
Healthcare this area !

Smart Comfortable
Houses & & Safe
Cities Mobility
Recent Topics①
Panasonic Corporation 「 Robotic Bed 」
Bed-shaped robot transformable into wheelchair to support people
with limited mobility to lead independent life
- Robot control system technology that aids safe operation.
- Human-robot interface technology to facilitate easy operation with no
need for training.
- Posture support technology that enables adjusting the mattress to
contour to the body shape.
- Information provision interface technology that moves according to the
user's position.

CYBERDYNE Inc. 「 Robot Suit HAL 」

The world's first cyborg-type robot that can expand and improve
physical capability by wearing it.
- Activities in Europe have become active.
- Signed for collaboration with Rehabilitation Center in Odense,
Denmark.
- Memo of Understanding between Danderyds Hospital in
Sweden.
Recent Topics②
R-TECHS 「 Finger Joint Rehabilitation
Robot 」
Memorize the movement of the physical therapist, and reproduce
it on a patient.
 Efficient rehabilitation is possible for a patient in a short term.
 Reduce surgical operation time and a burden for a physical
therapist.
 An example of the industry-university-government cooperation.

「 Yume-ROBO 」 at the EXPO 2010

Shanghai
Three robot going up and down the wall (15 meters in height) of
"Japanese Industry Pavilion".
 Led by Muscle Inc., 15 SMEs from Higashi-Osaka city and Yao
city were jointed in this project.
 Produced only in three month.
 What is Robot Laboratory?
Creative Center for the International Robotics Business
 Established by Osaka City Government in 2004, generating new businesses
utilizing the advanced technologies centered around the robotics technologies.
 Utilizes the advantages of the Kansai region, fullfilling the important role of
amassing and disseminating information regarding the next-generation robot
industry, and coordinating with a variety of reseach organizations, companies
and groups locally and globally.

a. Network Formation
b. Support Services
• Information Provision
• People Development
• Business Matching
a. Demonstration
Experiments
b. Collaboration with
Oversea
Next-Generation Robot Development Network
「 RooBO 」
Japan’s Largest Next-Generation Robot
Development Network
 A corporate network of Universities/Institutions Companies have needs
and issues
local and overseas firms Companies have seeds

and individuals from a

variety of industries,
sharing the common aim of
developing business
utilizing robots and robotics Research seeds Field needs/issues

technologies. Product/Service development at study group/forum

 Membership
Demonstration Experiment
(as of June 30, 2010)
　　 Corporate members:
107 Commercialization

Individual members: 337

Support Support
Providing Support Services
Rich Menus to Support Business Creation
 Sends information regarding robots and robotic
technologies.
- Issues “Robo-Maga” mail magazine
- Holds business trend seminars
 Develops core personnel for the projects
- Collaboration with the leading universities/institutes
- 8 training attendees founded a company, and 9 new
projects was started

 Provides place for the interchange among

companies, universities, research institutes, etc.
- Seeds presentations, Interchange parties, etc.
 Support the development of products/services
utilizing robotics technologies
- Organizes study group meetings on hot topics
- Arranges business matchings
Supporting Demonstration Experiments
Whole area of Osaka city is the demonstration
experiment field.
Supported 70+ demonstration experiments from 2005 to 2010.
Kita Ward
Konohana Ward
Nishi Ward

Miyakojima Ward

Chuo Ward

Ikuno Ward

Minato Ward

Tennoji Ward
Cooperating with Foreign Countries
Active interchanges with institutions and
companies from various countries worldwide.
【 Observation tours from overseas 】
 FY2008 16 tours
　（ 3 from Asia, 1 from North American, 4 from
Europe ）
 FY2009 17 tours
　（ 3 from Asia, 1 from North American, 5 from
Europe ）
【 Seminars held in collaboration with oversea
organizations and researchers 】
 International workshop on robot-related business creation
 Workshop on US service robot trend, recent projects, and
technology exchanges
 5th ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human Robot
Interaction
Event Information
Events to meet Robotics Technologies
【 2010 Next-Generation Robot Demonstration Experiments 】
 Demonstration experiments for the development and commercialization
of the next-generation robots & robotics technologies products/services
assumed to be used in commercial facilities.
 Place ： Diamor Osaka （ Underground shopping center of Umeda,
Osaka ）
 Date ： Nov.11, 2010 ～ Nov.17, 2010
【 International Symposium on Ubiquitous Network Robots 】
 Explains the latest information of the network robots on which global
standardization and commercialization have been progressing.
 Place ： Umeda Sky Tower West
 Date ： Nov.8, 2010

【 Technology Innovation Fair 2011 】

 Exhibits the application examples of robots and robotics technologies to
promote life innovation.
 Place ： ATC Ageless Center
 Date ： Feb.23, 2011 （ Planned ）
Contact Information
Please introduce us…
　・ Companies need the robotics technology
business partners.
　・ Universities or institutions look for the
collaborative reseach partners.
ROBOT LABORATORY
Project Planner
International Network Formation
Toshiya Nakae
Tel:06-6347-7877
E-Mail: nakae@sansokan.jp
http://www.robo-labo.jp
Thank You!