Osaka-based, robotics businesses and technologies move into the next generation
The robotics technology (RT) industry requires a combination of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, communications, kinetics, and nanotechnology; it is poised to be the next-generation industry. The Kansai region houses a concentration of robotics manufacturers and robotics industries. It is also home electronics companies using RT in home electronic appliances, and universities and research institutes engaged in advanced robotics R&D.
Robotics Technology Table of Contents (Jump within this page.)
Kansai-based, robotics-related businesses and technologies
Software (brain)
Artificial intelligence
Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd., Omron Corp., ATR, Nirvana Technology Inc.
Motion control
Osaka University/Asada Laboratory, Shirai Laboratory
Kobe University/Kitamura Laboratory
Nara Institute of Science and Technology/Ogasawara Laboratory
Kansai University/Takano and Aoyagi Laboratory
Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd., Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.,
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
Sensor information processing
Osaka University/Ishiguro Laboratory
Vstone Co., Ltd., Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.,
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
Action control
Kyoto University/Yoshikawa Laboratory
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd., Daihen Corp.
Control technology (motor nerve)
Motion control (wheel and crawler)
Kyoto University/Yoshikawa Laboratory
Nara Institute of Science and Technology/Ogasawara Laboratory,
Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
Two-legged locomotion control
Kyoto University/Sugie Laboratory, Osuga Laboratory
Osaka University/Arai Laboratory, Furusho Laboratory
Kobe University/Kitamura Laboratory
Multi-legged locomotion control
Kyoto University/Yoshikawa Laboratory, Osaka University/Furusho Laboratory
Robot manipulation
Kyoto University/Yoshikawa Laboratory
Doshisha University/Yokokawa Laboratory
Kansai University/Takano and Aoyagi Laboratory
Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd., Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., Daihen Corp.
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
Facial expression control
Communications Research Laboratory, Social Interaction Group
Actuator (muscle)
Servo motor
Omron Corp., Nidec Corp., Daihen Corp.
Gel actuator
Kobe University/Takamori Laboratory, Tadokoro Laboratory
Polymer actuator
EAMEX Co.
Gear moter
Matex Co.
Recognition technology (five senses)
Self-localization
Nara Institute of Science and Technology/Ogasawara Laboratory
Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd., Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
Image recognition technology/sensor
Nara Institute of Science and Technology/Kidode Laboratory, Ogasawara Laboratory
Osaka University/Yachida Laboratory, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Keyence Corp., Omron Corp., ATR, TIS
Speech recognition technology/microphone
Nirvana Technology Inc., Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Omron Corp., ATR, Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Arcadia, TIS
Ultrasonic sensor
Omron Corp., Keyence Corp., Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
Photoelectric sensor
Omron Corp., Keyence Corp., Hokuyo Automatic Co., Ltd.
Tactile sensor
Osaka University/Ishiguro Laboratory, Nitta Corp.
Force sensor
Ritsumeikan University/Nagai Laboratory, Nitta Corp., BL autotec, Ltd.
Odor sensor
New Cosmos Electric Co., Ltd.,
Gyro sensor
Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Omron Corp.
Rotary encoder
Omron Corp.
Force feedback technology
Kyoto University/Yoshikawa Laboratory, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.
Omni-directional sensor
Osaka University/ Yachida Laboratory, Ishiguro Laboratory
Vstone Co., Ltd., Systec Akazawa Co.
Power sources
Secondary battery
Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.
Exterior materials
Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Yuasa Corp.,Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.
Structural components and exterior materials (bones, joints, skin)
Structural components
Systec Akazawa Co., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.,
High-precision metal processors
Siding manufactures
High-precision plastic processors, High-precision metal processors
Integration and commercialization of technologies
Integration of element technologies
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd., Daihen Corp.
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd., Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.,
Toyo High Mech Co., Ltd.
Safety and usability
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.,
Other home electronics manufacturers
Source: "Results of the Survey on the Next-generation Robotics Industry in the Kinki Region" by the Kansai Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry (2003)
Creation of an integrated robotics industrial cluster
Taking advantage of the high concentration of robot technology (RT)-related businesses, universities and research institutions, Osaka City, from its Robot Laboratory, will encourage commercialization of next-generation robots and training of personnel specialized in RT, while offering various other support programs. Osaka City also aims to take the lead in the world's robot industry by inviting and hosting the Global Monodzukuri Summit for the world's top manufacturing firms and research institutions. It also plans to organize an exhibition and business meeting, the International Service Robot Fair (tentative name) and other related events.
Major Undertakings
Robot Laboratory
■Robot Laboratory
As a center for creation of the next-generation robot industry in Osaka, Robot Laboratory is open on the 16th floor of Osaka Ekimae Dai-san Building. This facility engages in collecting marketing and technical information on the next-generation robot industry; planning and implementing pilot demonstrations and offering other one-stop services; assisting in the building a network among next-generation robot businesses; and training personnel specialized in RT.
(Homepage：http://www.robo-labo.jp/english/)(Opens in new window.)
Next-Generation Robot Development Network (RooBo Committee)
Joined mainly by Kansai-based robot-related businesses, this network serves as a mechanism to coordinate the whole process from planning and design to the production and marketing of next-generation robots. Currently, efforts are underway through the network to address various robot-business-related issues, foster horizontal collaboration among companies with proprietary technologies, encourage joint ventures and joint research, facilitate technical innovations, and promote projects.
Starting from Osaka! Subsidy for Next-generation Robot Utilization Project R&D
A subsidy is available to R&D consortiums comprising of companies, universities and research institutions engaged in R&D of next-generation robots to provide life support to citizens. The subsidy covers part of the R&D expenses for commercialization
Assistance in developing pilot demonstrations of next-generation robots
Pilot demonstrations, which are indispensable for the commercialization of next-generation robots, will be implemented throughout the city, especially in its urban center, offering opportunities for citizens to interact with the robots. The subsidy is also available to companies and R&D groups engaged in developing pilot demonstrations.
Cultivating people for robot businesses
Osaka City organizes the training of imaginative personnel with an ability to generate new business ideas, build networks to realize the ideas and implement them on a commercial basis (network generators), with an aim to encourage creation of business ventures in the field of next-generation robots.
Global Monodzukuri Summit
To enhance the presence of Osaka as the worldﾕs center for the robot industry and manufacturing business, a series of international conferences for manufacturing firms is organized in Osaka, with the conference outcome published widely in Japan and the world as the "OSAKA INITIATIVE." In addition, the city aims to provide information on proprietary technologies possessed by Osaka-based small- and medium-sized companies by organizing symposiums and exhibitions/business meetings.
International Service Robot Fair (tentative name)
The International Robot Exhibition, the worldﾕs largest robot fair, is held every two years in Tokyo, organized by the Japan Robot Association and others. Osaka City invites part of the exhibition, specializing in service robots, to Osaka and organizes an exhibition and business meeting under the name of the "International Service Robot Fair (tentative name)."
