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\u201cThe Successor allows for streamlining workflow in fields that were previously difficult to automate through the use of robots. It also realizes passing on the precious skills of the master craftsmen who have supported Japan\u2019s culture of manufacturing to later generations. The system can also contribute to securing labor force by utilizing robots. The name, the \u201cSuccessor\u201d, stands for three meanings; a robot \u2018inherits skills\u2019,<\/strong> and those \u2018skills are conveyed\u2019 to young technicians<\/strong> through the robot, and finally, it broadens the scope of robot application, \u2018spreading new concepts to the world.\u2019\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The innovative solution the Successor enables a worker to personally operate the robotic arm remotely using a dedicated operation device (similar to a controller). The shape of the device differs depending on applications and just by performing actual factory work using the controller, the robot learns of the subtle nuances in the human\u2019s movements during the task and reproduces those movements. The sensory feedback capability lets users feel the weight and vibrations of the work being done through the robot arm as if the work was actually being done by hand.This remote-control device can also, through the camera and microphone\u2014serving as the craftsman\u2019s eyes and ears\u2014 comprehensively capture information, record the state of having correctly completed work, and reproduce the entire process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt may not be common knowledge, but even to this day, robots are not suited to do a number of tasks. For example, the process of equipping a car seat to a car. Since there are subtle variations to the mounting position depending on the vehicle, humans determine the correct position using the feeling from their palms, and only then the car seat can be equipped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although it may be easy for human beings, it is a different story for robots that specialize in accurately repeating the same preset tasks. Robots are usually unable to deal with tasks that required judgment at various situations every time. When using the Successor, as the humans repeat tasks, it accumulates data such as positioning, speed, and acceleration. By analyzing these data, the robot is able to learn the \u2018tricks of the trade.\u2019\u201d\uff08Yasuhiko Hashimoto\uff09<\/p>\n\n\n\n Why were these tasks only doable by humans? The Successor will allow the robot to learn and reproduce the movements of humans, so no engineer is necessary to program the robot. Mr. Hashimoto says that this would make it possible for robotization to expand even in fields where robotization was considered difficult, such as the production of small quantities of a large variety of goods in SMEs, or the production of custom-made products with differing product specifications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Successor\u2019s characteristic remote operation feature will bring various benefits to industrial workplaces, one of which is a worker\u2019s liberation from harsh environments. Since the worker can operate the robot through the remote-control device, there is no need to stay around the robot. As a result, coordinated work between large robots and humans can be carried out safely. In addition, tasks that require working in harsh environments such as those with dust and high temperatures, or handling heavy loads can be drastically reduced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, if a robot can learn how humans work and extend the gamut of its automatic operation capabilities, then the range of operations by humans will decrease. Consequently, one technician can then supervise and operate multiple robots at the same time, which dramatically increases the efficiency of production per capita.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Why only now, in 2017, is the practicality of the Successor being put to use? It is not strange to think that the idea of combining remote operation with robot automation would have come about even earlier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mr. Hashimoto smiles bitterly at this question. \u201cThis is the Columbus egg of the industrial robot world.\u201d At Kawasaki, the so-called master\/slave control technology meaning a robot moves based on unidirectional communication from a master, has been in development since the 1980s, while work was also being done in tandem on automation technology. However, Mr. Hashimoto analyzes that perhaps combining these individual technologies and coming up with the idea to realize \u201cautomation and learning of craftsman skills\u201d were not so prevalent in the industrial robot world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since the Successor is built upon existing technology, its development to practical usage took an exceptionally short period of less than two years. A big part of this is the fact that Kawasaki had the master\/slave technology, the automation technology, as well as the AI. \u201cWe already possessed the component technologies and knew them well.\u201d (Mr. Hashimoto)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBehind the decision to come out with the approach for the Successor to \u2018reproduce the skills of expert technicians,\u2019 now was the will of the company to promote the implementation of robots even in areas where it had been difficult in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to statistical data, the number of industrial robots used per 10,000 employees in the manufacturing industry is about 300 in Japan. Even in Korea, where they are most advanced in the world in this field, it is about 600 units (Source: the International Federation of Robotics). As for the automation of the manufacturing industry, I believe there are many more areas still left behind. With the Successor, we believe that we can raise this number to a standard of 1000, or even 2000 units.\u201d (Mr. Hashimoto)<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the implementation of machine learning technology of AI into the Successor\u2019s system, Kawasaki is confident of realizing that robots automatically learn through repetitions of workers\u2019 remote-operated tasks and enabling them to acquire skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/kawasakirobotics.com\/tachyon\/sites\/3\/2024\/02\/index_ph04-3.jpg\")
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The unresolved problem of tasks industrial robots cannot perform<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Conventionally, when making a robot do a certain task, the common practice was to have specialist engineers observe a human\u2019s complex movements and program these observations into the robot.<\/strong> With this method, it was difficult to reproduce processes which called for craftsmen to rely on their sense of touch or hearing, or other processes dependent on the combination of multiple senses in order to successfully complete the work. Additionally, there was also the problem of programming requiring a certain amount of time and cost, making it infeasible to use robots for small-scale production (having humans do the work costs less).<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/kawasakirobotics.com\/tachyon\/sites\/3\/2024\/02\/index_ph06-3.jpg\")
Revisiting the scope of work that robots cannot do<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Successor opens the door to the near future where humans and industrial robots \u201ccollaborate\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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