June 24, 2008
FOUR Japanese companies are co-operating in a bid to create a mainstream market for robots and to stay a step ahead of competition from South Korea.
The companies - Tmsuk, ZMP, VStone and Business Design Laboratory - say they are forming a loose federation to exchange technology and market their products jointly overseas.
Japan has been a leader in robotics, frequently making headlines for humanoids that do everything from playing the violin to babysitting to helping elderly people.
Industrial robots are commonly put to use in Japan, but companies have struggled to find a mass consumer market for humanoids, in part because of the prohibitive costs.
The companies say they hope to sell a total of 200,000 to 300,000 robots in the next five years, about 10 times what they sell now.
"In the coming decade, we believe robots will widely enter into our everyday lives. They have proved effective in services, education and entertainment," the companies say.
"However, to expand their contribution to the overall national economy, it is essential not to stop at research and development but to directly engage in market operations," the newly created Federation for the Market Creation of Next-Generation Robots says.
As Japan ages, household robots could include BDL's ifbot, a white model with green eyes and a flashing smile that can fight dementia among the elderly by quizzing them, singing songs and giving health advice.
Tmsuk president Yoichi Takamoto warns that Japan's standing could be overtaken by hi-tech neighbour South Korea, which has set a goal of a robot in every household as early as 2013.
"Japan's robotics technology is still No1, but I am not sure how long that will be. South Korea is working quite hard in this field," BDL president Kenji Kimura says.
The companies complain that Japan had not supported robotics in the same way as South Korea, which last year set up a 100 billionwon ($10.5 million) fund to encourage innovation, and is planning the world's first robot theme park by 2013.
"In Japan we are trying to start a robot business, but at this rate I do not know if that will ever happen," Tmsuk's Mr Takamoto says.
AFP