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The World Robot Summit Warm-Ups Get Underway The World Robot Summit 2018 (WRS2018), an international competition for robots, was held at the Tokyo Big Sight for 5 days from October 17 to 21, 2018. The World Robot Summit, or WRS, is a major event for robotics hosted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), with the goal of accelerating the social implementation of robots amidst a rapidly aging society, and the 2018 summit served as a precursor to the main competition (WRS2020) set to take place in 2020, the same year Japan will host the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic […]
There are only two years to go until the opening of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, and preparations are in full swing. There is also another big international event which will be held in Japan around the same time that should not be forgotten. That is an international robotics event, the World Robot Summit (WRS) which is hosted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). Although various international robotics exhibitions have been organized, the WRS is the first international robotics exhibition organized by a nation. The WRS’s aim is “to promote a world where robots and humans […]
Another story of robots during the period of rapid economic growth In the 1960s, Japan was at a fever pitch with its dramatic economic growth. With the opening of the Tokyo Olympic Games not too far off, inaugurations of things like expressways and the Shinkansen (high-speed bullet train) were happening one after another and people were living increasingly enriched lives. At that time, Astro Boy, the wildly popular robot animation series, had just started its TV broadcast on the airwaves, bringing much excitement into living rooms all across Japan. For most Japanese people, robots were a source of inspiration and represented an image of the future. But behind the scenes, […]
“Kawasaki-Unimate”, Japan’s first domestically manufactured industrial robot Industrial robots have strongly supported businesses in Japan. Although today it becomes common for many companies to implement robot systems, the road to widespread adoption was by no means a smooth one. As a matter of fact, the first industrial robot domestically manufactured in Japan was the Kawasaki-Unimate launched by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, or Kawasaki, in 1969. This article will introduce some of the stories behind the development of this home-grown Unimate. An industrial robot is a machine with multiple, freely-moveable, operable joints capable of performing tasks such as welding and handling heavy objects. Once movements are configured through teaching and programming, industrial […]
“Special training” required to use industrial robots Like driving schools, there are also robot schools. These robot schools deal with industrial robots such as robotic arms. Today, the use of collaborative robots (cobots) which work with humans in the same workspace is gradually increasing. Some of these cobots are made with materials that won’t hurt people if they come in contact with each other or are able to stop immediately when they sense a collision with humans. On the other hand, since industrial robots used at factories are extremely powerful and move at high speed, operation without proper training may cause serious accidents. To prevent such accidents, it is necessary […]
Are the structures of robots and humans the same? Robots and humans share a common feature. Humans and mechanical robots—as opposite as they may seem, they, in fact, share the same underlying structure of links (bones) and joints. The basic skeleton of industrial robots, of which is made up of mainly robotic arms, is a combination of links and joints. Relating it to a human body, parts that can freely bend and move about, such as the elbow and shoulder, are the joints, and the bones connecting those joints are equivalent to a robot’s links. The principle of moving joints and transmitting power through the links is common in both […]
Kawasaki Heavy Industries, or Kawasaki, is well known for its“Kawasaki”motorcycle brand. As the “Heavy Industries” in its name suggests, Kawasaki is a manufacturer of a wide range of machines from motorcycles to ships to aircraft. However, did you know that one of the core products in its lineup is robots? Kawasaki produces industrial robots that operate mainly in manufacturing sites, contributing FA. No, FA does not stand for Full Armor. It stands for Factory Automation. These robots, which Kawasaki was the first to domestically produce in Japan, are working hard in factories around the world today. Needless to say, these robots are part of the workforce in Kawasaki’s motorcycle factory as well. […]
He can do his job faultlessly with speed! The end of the fiscal year is always the busiest month of the year for our editorial office. The announcements of many new gadgets mean more stories to write, and backend office work just keeps piling up. When fatigue builds up and kicks in, concentration steadily goes down the drain; it creates a lot of unwanted trouble. Oh listen, the bemoaning show is starting again. What’s wrong, Yoshioka? “The program froze…and I forgot to save my draft…” I understand exactly how he feels. Everyone’s had that, right? Your computer magically ALWAYS crashes when you’re writing articles or reports. “We’re too busy… I’m […]
What kind of operations are robots capable of? Today industrial robots are often featured on TV and other media, and the opportunity to see industrial robots is gradually increasing. However, we guess that most of you have not yet seen the real performance at actual workplaces. Although Japan has become the so-called “Robot Kingdom”, such an opportunity is still limited in everyday life unless one has worked at factories equipped with robots. This article introduces the inside of the Robot Showroom of Kawasaki Heavy Industries, or Kawasaki, in the Nishi-Kobe Works. The Showroom exhibits how industrial robots are working in actual workplaces. Now let’s take a look at their performances. […]
Did you know that industrial robots were born in the U.S. and raised in Japan? The first industrial robot in Japan was created over half a century ago. In 1968, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, or Kawasaki, signed a technical licensing agreement with an American venture company Unimation and began domestic production in Japan. Japan’s first domestically manufactured industrial robot, the “Kawasaki-Unimate 2000”, was completed in 1969. Since then, the development of industrial robots in Japan has accelerated, with the main focus on the automotive industry. Kawasaki has become one of the major industrial robot manufacturers, gaining a large global market share and establishing the foundation for Japan to become the present-day […]