Text 4 (c). Robotics: Japan Takes the Lead

In the mid-1960s Prof. Hiroyasu Funakubo of Japan’s Medical Precision Engineering Institute¹ was handed a particularly challenging assignment: develop an artificial limb for thalidomide² babies born without arms. Eight years later Funakubo produced an aluminum and carbon-fiber arm powered by eleven separate micromotors – which, on command, could duplicate almost any function of the human arm. Professor Funakubo’s arm proved too expensive for its intended purpose. But it has turned out to be a key element in a generation of “mechatronic” robots.

This class of robots seemed to cement Japan’s position as world leader in the business for years to come. Japanese companies moved into the field and quickly conquered the market. By the end of 1980s Japanese producers had supplied about 70% of the industrial robots working in the Western world. Nevertheless, industry leaders in Japan feel their biggest growth is yet to come.

Much of the growth is likely to stem from research like Professor Funakubo’s. The electrical arm is much more accurate than the hydraulic arms used in many robot models, and robot manufactures are now confident they will produce “intelligent robots” that will be able to “see” and “feel” and take over more production-line and commercial functions. For example, there has been developed a snake-like robot that can creep through pipes and other narrow openings to inspect and even do repair work in places inaccessible to humans. One Japanese company is getting ready to market a janitor-watchman³ that is simultaneously able to clean the floor and send out radio signals warning against fires or intruders. In the prototype stage are even more sophisticated devices: a 25-fingered breast-cancer detector, a Seeing Eye dog and a home-care system for invalids.

Most of the new robots are expected to be used in heavy industry, where the current generation of smart machines has already proved popular in automotive and other assembly plants, performing such tasks as spot welding and body painting.

Industry around the world is looking for robots to save on labour costs. Nissan Motor says that its new light-truck plant in Smyrna, U.S., is equipped with more than 200 robots. Experts also point out that demographic trends show fewer people coming into the job market in the years ahead, making robots something of a necessity. Robots may also take over jobs that humans find undesirable – such as coal mining.

While industry should continue to be the biggest markets for robotry, some of the more interesting developments are taking place in the medical field. Funakubo’s arms, for example, have been mounted in pair on a bedside table and linked to a robot cart that shuttles back and forth between a storage cabinet and the patient’s bed. That system can be activated by keyboard, voice command and even by whistles and gasps. The cart and the arms can find and deliver to the patient a newspaper or a piece of fruit – anything that is stored in the cabinet. As yet the fingers of the arms are not able to peel the fruit, but Funakubo thinks they will have that capacity.

Among the other new robots under development is the Melkong, which can pick the patient gently off his bed, put him in a bathtub and deposit him back in bed again.

Not all of the applications on the robotry drawing boards will prove to be practical. But the demand for new smart machines will continue. After all, they never go on vacation, take a break or ask for a rise.

NOTES: ¹ институт точной медицинской техники

² седативный препарат, в результате приема которого женщина

может родить ребенка с деформированными конечностями

³ уборщик и сторож одновременно