Japan to launch new robot initiative

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 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.

Japan to launch new robot development initiative