Teaching humanoid robots new skillsーNHK WORLD-JAPAN NEWS

[00:00:00]And humanoid uh robots have made tremendous uh progress powered by rapid advances in AI. However, to perform actual tasks on site, they must be taught human movements, and companies specializing in this field are now emerging.

[00:00:18]>> In early June, a demonstration of a humanoid robot was held at Japan's largest exhibition hall.

[00:00:27]One company responsible for ground handling operations for a major airline hopes to use such robots in the future.

[00:00:37]The company is using a Chinese-made robot. It's 130 cm tall and weighs about 35 kg.

[00:00:48]It can push containers on a dolly and also operate levers.

[00:01:00]Airports now face a severe shortage of ground support staff, but automation is difficult as loading operations vary depending on the aircraft type.

[00:01:12]>> Most of the work is done manually, but I hope we can reach a point where humanoid robots can take over these tasks.

[00:01:20]>> In April, a major Japanese IT company opened a research institute to support the practical use of robots in the field.

[00:01:30]The Chinese-made robot used in the demonstration earlier is designed to move with balance and agility.

[00:01:38]But it still needs to be taught actual human movements.

[00:01:44]This engineer simulates various training scenarios.

[00:01:48]The box color represents the weight. The robots in the simulation repeatedly push the boxes at different weights to determine the optimal movements.

[00:02:02]>> When handling heavy objects, it has to learn to plant its feet firmly and push so they don't slip.

[00:02:13]>> To be used in actual workplaces, humanoid robots must move effectively and also meet high safety standards.

[00:02:23]This company plans to introduce robots made in the US, Japan, and other countries, aiming for practical implementation by training them for specific tasks.

[00:02:36]>> Rather than just recreating AI and robots, we'll combine the two and provide them as quickly as possible.

[00:02:44]Which will ultimately allow us to deliver the robots that society needs.

[00:02:50]>> In Japan, where labor shortages are a growing concern, humanoid robots are getting ready to add to the workforce.