Government Awards Honor Japan’s Labor-Saving Robots

Ten robots have become honorees of prizes given by the Japanese government to encourage robotics research and development. Among the prize winners are a factory worker hand robot, an automatic vacuum-cleaner-on-wheels, “My Spoon,” a bot designed to aid the elderly to eat, and Paro, a furry seal which responds to human interaction. Japan sees robots as a method of dealing with its increasing labor shortage and rapidly aging population. Released forecasts indicate that the country’s 127 million population will decline by 30% by 2055 with those 65 or older comprising 40% of it.

 

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