NEWSWORTHY
Construction robots in Japan weld, bolt and lift to tackle worker shortage
Robots that can weld, lift and bolt are being developed to help bridge labor shortages at domestic construction sites, though their use will be limited to night shifts when no human workers will be nearby due to safety and regulatory concerns. Major construction firm Shimizu ...
Fukushima professor develops rubber that can make and store power from light and vibration
Kunio Shimada, a professor of fluid mechanics and energy engineering at Fukushima University, has developed a special rubber that can generate electricity from solar and kinetic energy and save the power generated. The 53-year-old professor, who is from the city of Fukushima, says the rubber ...
After 12-year wait, Sony relaunches robot dog Aibo to much fanfare
Sony Corp. relaunched the Aibo on Thursday, with fans expressing excitement at the second unleashing of the robot dog. The gadget's revival is not just a simple product relaunch but a symbol of Sony's recent resurgence as it vies to play a leading role in ...
Saudi Arabia's powerful crown prince on Tuesday announced plans to build a futuristic city run entirely on alternative sources of energy and said the ultraconservative kingdom must return to "moderate Islam." The $500 billion "Neom" project, envisioned as a hub for technological innovation, will be ...
From flying taxis to Batman-style surveillance motorcycles, Dubai's GITEX expo this week showcased innovations that were symbols of the city-state's ambitions to be a metropolis of the future. Known for its futuristic skyline and artificial islands, Gulf emirate Dubai has carved out a place alongside ...
More two-income families are shelling out money for machines that free them of daily chores
Robotic vacuum cleaners, washer dryers and dishwashers are popular among two-income households, as they afford families more free time by relieving them of daily chores, according to electronics makers and retailers. Electronics chain Bic Camera Inc. said the number of robot cleaners it sold in ...
U.S. charges Chinese-Canadian found at medical tech firm with trade secret theft
A dual citizen of China and Canada has been arrested and charged with trying to steal trade secrets from a Massachusetts-based manufacturer of robotic surgical products by trespassing at its headquarters. Dong Liu, who authorities say claimed to be a patent lawyer with a Beijing-based ...
Prime time in worker-scarce Japan for investing in service robots
Faced with their worst labor shortage in decades, Japanese service companies are finally turning to labor-saving technology, an investment that could lift the sector's woeful level of productivity and allow them to raise wages. While the nation's manufacturers are renowned for deploying advanced robotics, most ...
Two Burundi teens missing after robotics competition seen crossing into Canada: police
Police have received reports that two of the Burundi teenagers listed as missing after an international robotics competition have been seen crossing the border into Canada. The whereabouts of their fellow team members remains unknown and the search for all the teens remains ongoing, but ...
SoftBank mulls investment in Chinese robotics startup Makeblock
SoftBank Group Corp. is in talks to invest in Makeblock Co., a Chinese maker of DIY robotics, people familiar with the matter said. Makeblock is seeking to raise about $60 million in a series C round by the end of this year as it targets ...
SoftBank gains cutting-edge robotics with Boston Dynamics acquisition
The SoftBank Group invests in a robotic future by purchasing Boston Dynamics from Google parent Alphabet along with Japanese robot maker Schaft.
Creating a real ghost in the shell
Yasuo Kuniyoshi is a man with an extraordinary plan. Kuniyoshi, a professor at the University of Tokyo's Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, has been attempting to produce an utterly convincing artificial being for the past 30 years. "A robot," he says, "that has ...
