Robotics in Japan

Abstract

People seem to either love or hate robots. They are alternately assailed for their dehumanizing impact on society, portrayed as menacing forces of evil or viewed as benign, almost human creations. For several decades, they have featured prominently in commercial innovation strategies, particularly following the success of the Japanese robot-based manufacturing processes. Thousands of factories around the world have shifted from human-manned assembly lines to robotized systems, improving efficiency, dependability, quality and cost effectiveness in the process — and eliminating thousands of jobs at the same time. Japan has long been a world leader in the manufacture and use of industrial robots. Now it stands at the forefront of the commercial and domestic use of robots. The proliferation of robots has become among the most prominent manifestations of Japan’s commitment to innovation and a symbol of the country’s openness to technology-based solutions to national challenges.