Japanese robot companies join forces to compete with South Korea
South Korea has already made its ambitious robot plans quite well known, and it now looks like a group of Japanese robot companies are doing their best to stay in the race, with them forming a consortium of sorts that they say will let them cooperate in the research, development and marketing of robots. Currently, that group includes Tokyo's ZMP, Nagoya's Business Design Laboratory, Vstone (makers of the Black Ox pictured above), and Tmsuk, each of which will apparently initially focus on "simple service robots" designed to keep watch on the elderly, pets, and children. They're not getting much more specific than that just yet, unfortunately, with one of the company's CEOs only going so far as to say that, "in ten years, robots may be able to help out around the house," but that he doesn't "necessarily know that robots should do everything."
















Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Frun @ Jun 18th 2008 2:41PM
Guess this is a good time as any to sign myself up for some robot insurance.
Najakwa @ Jun 18th 2008 2:54PM
An insurance policy with a robot plan? Certainly, I'm too old.
Rainier @ Jun 18th 2008 4:43PM
@Frun
Your comment + your avatar pic = perfect combination!
okayokay @ Jun 18th 2008 6:46PM
Ranier is correct-
so Very witty and Nice picture (love the cartoon)!
I'm still laughing loudly!
PGP-Protector @ Jun 18th 2008 2:43PM
And now the seeds of our doom have truly been planted.
initialxy @ Jun 18th 2008 2:44PM
Got the Three Laws working yet?
Sharakar @ Jun 18th 2008 2:47PM
Personally I would like to welcome our robotic overlords!! ( I know it's old but i never had the chance to say it)
More importantly, it's been 1 whole news page with no news related to apple/mac/iphone. Gz Engadget, keep up with the abstency.
Sharakar @ Jun 18th 2008 2:53PM
Edit: I just double checked, it's actually a new record of 2.5 pages.
jason @ Jun 18th 2008 6:07PM
but they did compare the instinct to the iphone
Mycroft @ Jun 18th 2008 2:52PM
It is now official, 75% of Japan's GDP is dedicated to the development of robots you can have sexual intercourse with.
The other 25% is dedicated to developing robots that can have sexual intercourse with each other.
kal326 @ Jun 18th 2008 3:22PM
I wonder if that means in the near future you can buy used joint grease out of a vending machine like you can currently buy other previously used products out of vending machines?
Low Ranked @ Jun 18th 2008 2:53PM
Judging by the trees, these robots look much too large to keep watch on granny.
initialxy @ Jun 18th 2008 2:59PM
it's japan, those are bonsai
Leroy Vargas @ Jun 18th 2008 11:47PM
Yes, but the bonsai there actually plays the role of a full-size tree beside two raging robots (played by two 1:64-scale toys, I believe) who, according to Mitsuteru Yokoyama's comic books, are 10x or so taller than humans.
farfisa @ Jun 18th 2008 2:57PM
The humans know too much.
Flibble @ Jun 18th 2008 3:04PM
I, for one, welcome our new robot overlords.
irfan @ Jun 18th 2008 3:09PM
HEY!! THAT ROBOT IS FROM SWAT CATS
Leroy Vargas @ Jun 18th 2008 11:44PM
WRONG!!!!!! SWAT KATS my bottom. These two robots are Black Ox and Tetsujin 28 (a.k.a. Gigantor) from some Japanese manga/anime by late Mitsuteru Yokoyama (and a live-action+CG movie was also spun off this, and yes in the movie they're much larger than humans, so the bonsai was put there to mimic a full-size tree and blend with the robots' 1:64 scale)
cit9 @ Jun 18th 2008 3:43PM
http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/05/video-fujitsus-navirobot-smells-beer-tells-you-where-to-find/
and yet NaviRobo could win a duel against either of those two, with ease!
Ras Thavas @ Jun 18th 2008 3:51PM
Where do I get one of those Gigantor robots that is laying on the table?
Leroy Vargas @ Jun 18th 2008 11:48PM
Search for it on eBay.
sinai @ Jun 18th 2008 3:54PM
TAEKWON V IS SUPERIOR!
Uchiha Sasuke @ Jun 18th 2008 4:12PM
So, I'm assuming the joint forces' first project is Voltron?
Jhongerkong @ Jun 18th 2008 4:53PM
Oh shit! Its EVIL ULTRAMAN.
LouiseV @ Jun 18th 2008 5:18PM
I think the robots are from old Japanese robot cartoon.
this?
http://cgi.ebay.com.my/Kaiyodo-Revoltech-Tetsujin-28-Black-OX_W0QQitemZ290239662500QQihZ019QQcategoryZ19198QQcmdZViewItem
Christian @ Jun 18th 2008 5:27PM
so robot wars are really gonna start sooner?
Twitchy @ Jun 18th 2008 6:37PM
Yep - even money that the first one is between Japan and Korea. Purely as a proof of concept of course.
darlisd @ Jun 21st 2008 2:31AM
Wooow......looks like Mazinger-Z will soon come true.