{"id":68320,"date":"2016-02-01T16:28:48","date_gmt":"2016-02-01T07:28:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.waseda.jp\/inst\/research\/?p=68320"},"modified":"2019-01-22T16:30:32","modified_gmt":"2019-01-22T07:30:32","slug":"the-future-of-robotics-technology-at-the-future-robotics-organizations-first-symposium","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.waseda.jp\/inst\/research\/news-en\/68320","title":{"rendered":"The future of robotics technology at the Future Robotics Organization’s first symposium"},"content":{"rendered":"

For half a century, Waseda University has conducted robotics research to create robot technology that works with and supports people. To further promote cutting edge research, on March 2, 2015, the University established the Future Robotics Organization<\/a> (Director Masakatsu Fujie<\/a>), which houses three research project institutes and is grounded in the belief that \u201crobots are machines made to support people.”<\/p>\n

On January 16, the Future Robotics Organization kicked off its first symposium. Approximately 150 students, faculty, and guests attended.<\/p>\n

University Vice President Shuji Hashimoto<\/a> (Faculty of Science and Engineering) opened the symposium, saying, \u201cWaseda University\u2019s robotics research began in the late 1960s, spearheaded by Professor Ichiro Kato. Half a century has passed since then. Among the various research conducted at Waseda, its robotics research is one with great history. There are high expectations for robots not only in factories, but also throughout society where they can become an extension of the human body and a part of everyday life. We are ready to address the question of how Waseda will meet these expectations. We also expect the \u201cFrontier of Embodiment Informatics: ICT and Robotics\u201d initiative supported by the MEXT Top Global University Project\u201d to contribute greatly to the growth and success of the Future Robotics Organization.\u201d<\/p>\n

Following a keynote speech from Professor Hajime Asama from The University of Tokyo\u2019s School of Engineering, Director of the Future Robotics Organization, Professor Masakatsu Fujie (Faculty of Science and Engineering), talked about the goals of his Organization. \u201cThis organization conducts comprehensive research from multiple perspectives including the service industry, medical welfare, disaster response, and more. The history of Waseda\u2019s robot research has often been described as research \u2018that shines light on the relationship between humans and robots.\u2019 Going forward we will conduct research that helps us transition from an era where \u2018humans unite with robots\u2019 to one where \u2018robots unite with humans\u2019. For example, picture a robot at the crowded Sensoji Temple in Asakusa that can skillfully deal with a person bumping into it, and continue walking with its human companion. This is the kind of robotics technology we are aiming for.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\nDirector of Future Robotics Organization: Professor Masakatsu Fujie (Faculty of Science and Engineering)<\/b><\/p>\n

Professor Fujie<\/a> (Director of Institute for Healthcare Robotics<\/a>), Professor Shigeki Sugano<\/a> (Director of Human Robot Co-Creation<\/a>), and Professor Hiroshi Yamakawa<\/a> (Director of Institute for Disaster Response Robotics<\/a>) introduced their respective institutes. There were \u00a0discussions about innovative research projects at the research institutes. Professor Hiroshi Fujimoto<\/a> introduced research on \u201chealth care machinery and human interface,\u201d Professor Tetsuya Ogata<\/a> on \u201cintelligence for human-robot cooperation,\u201d and Professor Atsuo Takanishi<\/a> on \u201chumanoids for disaster response and imPACT project\u201d.<\/p>\n

Attendees were also treated to a live demonstration of a four-legged robot from the Takanishi<\/a> and Hashimoto<\/a> Laboratories.<\/p>\n

\"20160120_3\"
\nProfessor Kenji Hashimoto<\/a> performs a live demonstration of a four-legged robot capable of climbing ladders.\u00a0<\/b>Researchers hope these types of technologies will be able to work in extreme environments such as damaged nuclear plants.<\/b><\/p>\n

Third year PhD student Katsuaki Tanaka from the Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering said, \u201cI learned a lot about innovate robotics technology and Waseda\u2019s robot research and history. I think the establishment of this Future Robotics Organization where research laboratories can collaborate is very important for meeting the expectations of robotics technology in society. The symposium also reaffirmed my belief that forming collaborations beyond the research lab is only possible at Waseda. As a student, I will do my best to help Waseda become a global leader in robotics research.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For half a century, Waseda University has conducted robotics research to create robot technology that works wi […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":68321,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[95],"tags":[179],"class_list":["post-68320","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-en","tag-research-en"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.waseda.jp\/inst\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68320","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.waseda.jp\/inst\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.waseda.jp\/inst\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.waseda.jp\/inst\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.waseda.jp\/inst\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=68320"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.waseda.jp\/inst\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68320\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.waseda.jp\/inst\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/68321"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.waseda.jp\/inst\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=68320"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.waseda.jp\/inst\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=68320"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.waseda.jp\/inst\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=68320"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}