National / Science & Health Apr 26, 2022
Video from researchers at the University of Tokyo showed the robot pick up and peel a banana with both hands in about three minutes.
Business Dec 9, 2021
'Robotaxis' roaming around Yokohama are winning over unlikely fans
by River Davis
Regulations and the need for further technology improvements mean a full-scale launch is still some years away, however.
National / Science & Health Nov 7, 2021
Experimental AI tech lending a helping hand to fruit producers in Japan
by Nazuna Nagai
Machines are providing farmers with information on the best time for fruit to be harvested, based on data from photographs.
Business / Tech Nov 4, 2021
FamilyMart trials AI robot for restocking convenience store drinks
The device, installed at a store inside a government ministry building in the Kasumigaseki district of Tokyo, restocks products by predicting sales based on the time and season.
Culture Aug 24, 2021
Are you ready for sentient Disney robots?
by Brooks Barnes
The Magic Kingdom knows the nostalgia of herky-jerky animatronics won’t cut it with today’s children.
Business / Tech Sep 22, 2020
Japan's robots fill the void as social distancing becomes the norm
by Donican Lam
Robots are being deployed in various roles, helping to navigate awkward social distancing issues.
Food & Drink Jul 8, 2020
Remote-controlled robots to join FamilyMart’s workforce this summer
by Claire Williamson
Created by Tokyo-based robotics firm Telexistence, FamilyMart workers will be able to control the robots from afar to help stock shelves.
Business / Tech Aug 5, 2019
Israeli army in no rush to go fully robotic as it puts sealed tanks through their paces
Israel, a world leader in hi-tech, is around 30 years away from its ambition of deploying robot forces, and for now will chose between three prototypes of semi-automated armored vehicles to cocoon its troops in battle, defense officials said on Sunday. Israel has long eyed ...
Business Jul 11, 2019
Walmart Inc. is facing a strike by thousands of workers in South America amid the retail giant's push to increase automation at its physical stores. About 17,000 Walmart workers in Chile went on an indefinite strike on Wednesday after labor talks between the company and ...
Business / Corporate Apr 24, 2019
Laundry-phobics' dreams crushed as Tokyo-based developer of Laundroid robot files for bankruptcy
by Kazuaki Nagata
When Seven Dreamers Laboratories Inc. unveiled its prototype laundry-folding robot in 2015, it generated a buzz, with people saying they couldn't wait to buy one if it ever went to market. But the AI-based tidying device dubbed Laundroid is apparently coming to an end before ...
Commentary / World Mar 16, 2019
Robot overlords wouldn't be the worst
by Faye Flam
Issues | LAW OF THE LAND Mar 6, 2019
Robot rights: From Asimov to Tezuka
by Colin P.A. Jones
Asimov's "Three Laws of Robotics" are fictional rules, so why do we keep looking to them for guidance? The closest thing to real-world robot law we could have more seems likely to develop around the question of when autonomous military drones can make "kill" ...