【Provisional】

Summary of Japan’s Robot
Strategy- It’s vision, strategy and action plan February 10th, 2015

Overview – Background and attitude about “Robot Revolution”◇ Japan as ”a Robotics superpower”
 The world biggest number of shipments and operating units of industrial robot in the world◇ Japan is ”an issue advanced country” for such as low birth rate and longevity, aging
infrastructure, which is expected to utilize robot technology.
◇ Europe and the United States are catching up with the new production systems with digitaland network technology as a key to advancement. China and developing country are also
accelerating investment to robots. (Chinese robot introduction amount outnumber Japan.)
Lead the world by intensive utilize of robot in data-driven era.

What is Robot Revolution?

Three Pillars realizing the revolution

1. Dramatic changes in robot (“autonomy”,“being information terminal”, “networking”)
Even car, consumer electronics, mobile
phone and house become robots

1. Becoming the robot innovation hub of theworld,

2. Utilizing robot in various fields frommanufacturing to daily life
3. Through the resolution of social issues andstrengtheningofinternational
competitiveness, realizing a society inwhich the robot creates new value.

Towards
RobotRevolution

2. the world’s leading robot utilization society,(SME, nursing/medical care, infrastructure,etc. )3. Leading the world with robotics in IoT era(Robot with IT utilizing big-data, network andAI)

Action plan - Cross-cutting issue (1) the foundation of “Robot Revolution Initiative” -◇ Based on the results of "the robot revolution realization council", establish a promoting organization thatinvolves the industry, academia, and government to realize robot revolution in actual fields. Considering
discussion on AI and IoT in Industrial Competitiveness Council and the Council for Science, Technology andInnovation.

Robot Revolution Initiative

External
Organizations

OtherCountries○ Major Efforts

Matching seeds to needs, sharing and diffusing best practices, driving international
projects, utilizing national institutes, use of Obs, international standardization,security issues and etc.

Council for
Industrial
Competitiveness<Expected structure>
Management Committee(key stakeholders)

cooperation
Council forScience,Technology andInnovation

Council forRegulatory
ReformInformationexchange○Member- Major industrial association (Robot, parts, users (automobile, agriculture,medical/nursing care, infrastructure, etc.))- University, research institutes (NEDO, AIST, NII, etc.)- Cooperation organization in local area
WG1

Industrial
InternetConsortium(United States)

Industry 4.0(Germany)

WG2
WG3・・・・

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Action Plan - Cross-cutting issue (2) Technology development towards next generation ◇ Need to promote research and development for core element technologies and/or innovative next-generation
technologies in order to win the data drive society.
◇ The next-generation technologies (AI, sensor and cognition systems, mechanisms/actuators and its control
systems and platform technologies to integrate these core elements) that give a significant impact when
implemented in industry and society must be developed.
◇ Research and development of element technologies must be performed with collaboration and information
sharing among researchers by workshops, promoting competition among research institutes by contest andaward scheme, and introducing the open innovation.
Expected technologies
to be developed
開発すべき技術（イメージ）

・・・

・・・

・・・

技術H
H・・・

Othertechnologies
その他の技術Technology

Stimulate research andGoal

ワークショップ・チャレンジプログラム等により研究開発を刺激
development by workshops andchallenge programs

新規

Workshops/challenge programs

・・・Technology

技術G
G

終了

Goal

安心安全評価・標準
Safety evaluation, standard

Technology

技術F
F

新規End・・・

E
技術E

restartStage gate・・・Technology

Reviewand見直して再開

Start

OS, middleware, etc.
OS・ミドルウェア等

技術D
D

Workshops/challenge programs

・・・Technology

終了

DARPA

DARPA型で推進
style

ワークショップ・
チャレンジプログラム等

・・・

Technology

Utilize new

新たなロボットに活用
robots目標

Mechanism, actuator and control
機構・駆動（アクチュエータ）・制御

技術C
C

Utilize existing

ステージゲート

・・・

技術B
B

2025
2025

既存のロボットに活用
robots
目標・・・

Technology

ステージゲートる。）

Technology

産学官による多様な研究○脳型AIの研究技術A
A

Transfer to

Review bypracticaluse
ステージゲートによる評価
随時実用化
stage gateanytime

ワークショップ・
チャレンジプログラム等○知識推論型AIの高度化

Sensing and cognition
センシング・認識Technologies from other fields
上記以外の広範な分野から転用される技術等

Parallel researches

for element
要素技術を並行して研究
technologies

ワークショップ・
チャレンジプログラム等

driven（大量のデータから学習するAI技(AI technology learns from術）
big-data)〇 Advancement ofknowledge representing andreasoningAI（既存の知識から推測するAI技術）(Technology for reasoning
from existing knowledge)〇
Advancement of artificial（ソフトウェアで脳の機能を模擬す
brain AIる手法と、脳と同様の動きをする(Simulating
brain functions
bysoftware, and hardware
ハードウェアを構築する手法があrealize brain like functions)

2020
2020

2years
約2年後 laterStart○データ駆動型AIの高度化〇 Advancement of data-Present
現在Stage gateEnd

Although it is possible to provide one answer to one 既知の情報に基づく一問一答での応答は可能だが、会話
question based on given information, it is difficult to givea natural response based on the analogy of the context
人の指示や周りの状況や指示の文脈や行間を理解した類推に基づく自然な応答
of conversation or instruction or by reading between thelines, or respond to unknown situations (machineに応じて考えて行動すTechnology forや、未知の状況への対応は困難（現時点では、機械翻訳
translation is still developing).
るための技術automated
も未完成、発展途上）。
Behavior based
Pre-programmed movements can be made, but it isLearningon humandifficult to autonomous change or determine tasks by
学習 あらかじめプログラミングされた動作は可能だが、作業のrecognizing task progress or situations in the surrounding,indication andor make a movement by imitating the craftsmanship.
environment
進捗や周辺状況を認識して自律的にタスクを変更・決定することは困難。
It is necessary to study modularization of AI and softwareIntelligence Architecture(e.g., thinking system and reflex system in the brain
知能アーキテクチャ 人工知能のモジュール化（たとえば、思考系と反射系なstructure) in terms of concentration of research anddevelopment resources and improvement ofど）などにして検討する必要がある。
development productivity.
Reasoning
類推

intelligence

Expectedresearches for issues
課題解決に必要と考えられる研究例

Workshops/challenge programs

Artificial
人工知能

Current
major issues
現在の主な課題

Various research and development byIndustry, academia, and government

Coretechnology
コアテクノロジー

Scheme for
Research and Development
研究開発のあり方（コンセプト）

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Action Plan - Cross-cutting issue (3) Standardization and Field-Testing ◇ Act from cross-cutting and medium-long term prospective such as international standardization, Field-Testingof Robots which is valid for acceleration for development and introduction, human resource development
who progress the introduction and expansion of robot.
◇ The executive committee will be started within this year to establish the system, the concrete style andcompetition items will be determined by 2016, and also a preparatory competition will be held in 2018. And
then, the Robot Olympic will be held in 2020.
 International standardization→ indispensable for expanding our robotics technology to theworld• Securement of the compatibility （e.g. connection,interface, OS）• Assurance of quality and safety （Safety, certification）• Establishment of necessary test method (e.g. collision test,stability test) Field-Testing of Robots→ Valid for acceleration for development and introduction• Stable operation for securing the needs for equipment• Clarifying the concrete and institutional effect that leads tofuture commercialization• Endure into the future• Locate the “Fukushima Hama Doori Robot Testing
Zone(provisional name)” Robot Olympic→ Utilize as a good chance for introducing and expanding
robots• Progressing and acceleration of research and development
and supplying the place of demonstration for 5 years• Establish an executive committee within this year anddetermine the competition items by 2016
• Held a preparatory competition in 2018

 Human Resource Development→ fostering software human resources and SIers is a key for
robot utilization by• Make use of retired workers in production technical fieldsand OJT-type expansion (short term)• Utilization of public job training• Integrative curriculum at the graduate school Robot Award→ A large impact by evaluating the excellent cases• Publication of advanced cases and utilization and share
the best practice• Establishment of new award and expansion of awards

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Action Plan - Cross-cutting issue (4) Implementation of Robot Related Regulation Reform◇◇Promote regulatory reforms that are well-balanced in both of deregulation and rule establishment aimed at robot utilization.
Sort out issues occasionally through “Robot Revolution Initiative”. Coordinate with government Regulatory Reform Council andimplement comprehensive reform which look down on the related systems. Construct a robot barrier-free society.

Establishment of new radio wave utilization system that supports robot utilization （ Radio Act ）（Treating of radio used for remote controlling and unmanned robot such as the rule of sharing the frequency with existing radio wave systems and thesimple procedure for radio station licenses)→Implement necessary action serially after considering the requirement condition and technical review by 2016FY.

Smooth pre-market review process for brand-new medical devices （The Act on Securing Quality, Efficacy and Safety of Pharmaceuticals, Medical Devices,Regenerative and Cellular Therapy Products, Gene Therapy Products, and Cosmetics）（Handling of new medical device which utilize robotic technique such as surgical robot which is expected to alleviate the burdens of patients）→Conduct smooth pre-market review for brand-new medical devices, increase the ratio where medical devices are approved in the standard review period (10months for priority items) up to 80 percentage in 2018FY.

Reviewing the various legal systems related nursing care
（Flexibility of the procedure that require to add the new nursing-care insurance devices which are currently carried out once in three years（Reception of the request and consideration that can respond to the technical innovation ））→From 2015, MHLW receives the requests regarding the coverage of the nursing-care insurance system occasionally and add the new target items occasionally.

Road Traffic Act and Road Transport Vehicle Act（electric personal assistive mobility devices use at public road）→in addition to the utilizing the relaxation of the standards for road transport vehicles, based on the evaluation results of “Evaluation and Research Committee for
Structural Reform Special Districts”, which is planned to be conducted during FY2014, the way to deal with these assistive mobility devices will be considered,including whether to make the use of “Special System for Corporate Field Tests”, which was created in 2014.

Laws and Regulations related to uninhabited airborne robot(Aviation Law and the like)（Concrete rule about uninhabited airborne type robots (UAV) which is expected to be used at the disaster sites and the like）→As for the Large-size uninhabited aerial vehicles, domestic rules will be established by participating the consideration of the revision of the international standards
at International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and based on such revision which is expected to take place in 2019 or later. As for the small-size uninhabited
aerial vehicles, while identifying their operational situation, further examination will be proceeded to the laws and regulations.

Laws and regulations related to public infrastructure maintenance and repair（Valid method for utilizing robot effectively (a rule related to the utilizing robot in checking where visual inspection is required ）→Through the based on the on-site verification results, trial, and evaluation, examination will be proceeded about the method for utilizing robot. Based on theresults, method will be applied to the fields where robots are to be utilized

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Action plan－Sectoral issue (1) Manufacturing, service－Manufacturing

Service
製造業における労働生産性の推移（規模別）とロボット国内出荷額
1,100

500,000
450,000

溶接（22.4％）

運搬・搬入管理（9.5％）

ピッキング・整列・包装・入出荷（16.2％）

一般組立（0.1％）
5,000

10,000中小企業向出荷額

400,000

900

350,000

800

300,000

700

250,000
200,000600

150,000

500

100,000400※括弧内の数字は中小企業向の割合

0

労働生産性［万円／人］

1,000

15,00020,000

大企業向出荷額25,00030,000［百万円］

ロボット国内出荷額［百万円］

主要産業用ロボットの出荷先規模別出荷額＜Comparison between Japan and US in theservice field of the labor production standard＞

生産性は平均して米国の約６割

50,000300

083 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 05 07 09 11（年度）ロボット国内出荷額

大企業

中規模企業

小規模事業者

Robots are introduced to mainly major companies,
labor productivity have levelled off in recent years
 Promote to introduce robot to mainly labor-intensive work such as parts
processing and assembly and food processing
 Challenge for robot introduction to setup process where robotization
has been difficult in the past, and sophisticate robot by utilizing IT
 Foster SIer who integrates users and producers
 Standard modularization for Robots (Hardware/Software) andstreamlining the common platform （Robot OS (=Operating System forRobots)) Increase the rate of robotization in the assembly process: 25% for largescale companies・10% for small and medium-sized companies※The rate of robotization in the automobile assembly process is about 7％: by theEconomic Research Institute, Japan Society for the Promotion of Machine industry

 Best practice of utilizing next-generation robots：30 cases
 Interoperable hardware products：more than 1,000 types
 Expand the market scale related to SIer business （exceed the increase in
the size of the market for robots）

Need to improve the labor production which is lower than anyother country Promote to introduce robot to backyard operations such as logistics,
wholesale, retail, hotels, and restaurants
 Through collecting examples of the best practice and dissemination
nationwide, create a virtuous cycle of solving labor shortage in theservice industry, improving productivity, and increasing wages
 Bring into perspective a study toward automating human-based
process, such as development of the next-generation element
technologies

 The rate of use of robots for picking, screening, and checking operations: about30%
 Collect the best practice mainly for the backyard operations including collecting andplacing tables and cleaning in the wholesale and retail businesses, hotels, andrestaurants （about 100 examples）
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Action plan－Sectoral issue (2) Nursing and medical fields－Nursing

Medicals＜Scale of domestic market in the medical equipment＞

Rise of the aging rate, increase of the necessary care workers, 70% of workers
suffer from backacheThough the sales figures increase, increase rate rise and fall
 Support the development and practical realization and spread in theimportant 5 development fields, transfer support from bed, walking support,
excretion support, watching over who have dementia, bathing support

 Expand the domestic market scale of nursing care robots to 50 billion yen Lower the risk of care givers of suffering from a backache to zero by using
nursing care robots for helping the aged transfer
 Change the awareness of nursing methods using the newest robot
technology
Increase the percentage of people who wish to use nursing care robots
for providing care to 80% from the current 59.8%.
Increase the percentage of people who wish to have robots used when
undergoing care to 80% from the current 65.1%

 Spread the medical devices such as surgical robots
 Smooth pre-market review of brand-new medical
deviceMore than 100 cases of support to put medical carerelated equipment using robot technology will beimplemented in 5 years from 2015 to 2020
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Action plan－Sectoral issue (3) Infrastructure, disaster, construction/agriculture, food industry－Infrastructure, disaster, construction
Age group changes in the number of workers

Agriculture, food industry

Trends in construction investment and its employees

mil.

Employees of construction industry: 10^4Investment of construction industry: tril. yen

65 or older
1.067 mil.

10^4Core agriculture workers 1.74mil.
Average age: 66.5 y.o.

61%

Employees
Investmentmil.
or older

72.8% of peak (‘97)

50 or younger
178 thou.
(10.2%)

y.o.

Percentage of total core agricultureworkers (right axis)

y.o.

y.o.
58.0% of peak (‘92)

y.o.
y.o.
Note: Temporary workers not included

Note: () means composition ratio

Adapted from MIC “Labor force survey”, MLIT “Construction investment outlook”（From ”Construction industry handbook 2014” （Japan Federation of Construction Contractors））

A decrease and aging of the number of workers cause serious labor shortage

Possibility facing serious labor shortage by aging progresses Aim for solving the medium- and long-term labor shortage, by laborsaving and automation in construction.
 Aim for more efficient and sophisticated maintenance, by leveraging
the robot to visual inspections of infrastructure.
 Aim for faster understanding disaster situation by disaster survey
robot, and efficient construction by unmanned systems in landslidedisaster site.

 Achieve to unprecedented large-scale, low-cost production by
overcoming the work capacity limitation by automation introducing
the GPS automatic navigated farm machines including tractor.
 Aim for mechanization and automation of human-intensive hard
work by introducing assist-suits and herbicides robots.
 Realize labor saving and high-quality production by advanced
environmental control systems, damaged produce inspection systems
and big-data analysis.

 Aim for 30% of the adoption rate of intelligent construction for highproductivity and labor-saving.
 Aim for high effective maintenance and repair by sensor, robot andnon-destructive inspection to at least 20% of the aging important
infrastructure, .
 Achieve for unmanned construction efficiency comparable withmanned construction in harsh landslide and volcanic disaster site.

Achieve for implementation of automatic driving tractors toactual field until 2020.
Aim to introduce more than 20 types robots for laborsaving in agriculture and food industry.
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