MONTHLY NEWS
February 1999

Robots Could Soon Become Members of the Family

Japan is a leading manufacturer of robots, most of which are used for industrial purposes. But now, Japanese engineers at companies and universities are working to develop robots that can be used in people's daily lives.

"People who've grown up playing computer games are going to be quite intrested in robots of their own," says professor Tomomasa Sato of the University of Tokyo. And as Japan's population of the people continues to grow, there'll be greater demand for robots to look after bedridden patients and senior citizens.

To meet the needs of a graying society in 1997, researchers at the University of Tokyo developed a completely computerized "room robot" equipped with cameras and sensors on the ceiling, floor, and bed to monitor the condition of patients. Designed for people who can't walk around, the "robot" will fetch what the patient wants with a robotic arm when he or she simply points at it.

There are also "pet robots" that owners can boss around to let off steam or that perform comical dances to provide entertainment. Some of these robots also demand tender loving care; Sony, for example, is developing a robot shaped like a dog that will sulk when it doesn't get attention and show affection when its head is stroked. The company says it hopes to market the robot soon at a price that even children can afford.

A research institute connected with the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, meanwhile, is developing a robot for the office. Called Jijo-2, it's capable of remembering and analyzing things that it has learned through interaction with people. It will keep tabs on whether a person has reported for work, for example, and will be able to guide visitors to an employee's desk.

Recently, the institute opened its facilities to the general public. Jijo-2 was the most popular attraction and was constantly surrounded by schoolchildren, who bombarded the robot with commands like "Turn left" and "Face this way."

Photo: A prototype ofthe "pet robot" Sony is working on. (Asahi Shogakusei Shimbun)


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