TMCnet News
Japan to launch new robot development initiative(Asia In Focus Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)TOKYO, Feb 3 Asia in Focus - The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry will begin a results-oriented robot development project in fiscal 2006 that will be broad in scope, supporting applications for everything from factory automation to nanny-robots that can make sure children safely get to school and back. The ministry intends to review the participants after two years in order to focus the funding on those participants that have the best chances of attaining the project objectives in 10 years. * The project will support development work on three themes: factory automation, robots that operate in difficult environments and robots that help people in daily activities. * Within in each theme the work will focus on specific objectives, such as a robot that can assemble flexible materials like bundles of wires, and a robot that can bus tables at a family restaurant. SUMMARY Japanese Ministry to begin a results-oriented robot development project in fiscal 2006 ASIA IN FOCUS 03-02 1917 |