Robotics in Japan: Innovation and Care

A robot vaguely resembling a ______ will begin stocking sandwiches at a Japanese convenience store.

The test aims to help trigger a wave of retail ______.

Store operator Family Mart plans to use robot workers at ______ stores around Tokyo.

Initially, people will operate the robots ______ until they can function autonomously.

Engineers working on elderly-care robots should focus on making simple ______ to integrate into care facilities.

Japanese may ultimately prefer to have their human ______ handled by actual humans.

Industrial robots played a major role in the economic revival of Japan during the ______.

The robots' artificial ______ can learn to mimic human movements.

Japan became a major exporter of industrial ______ to other countries.

The concept of controlling several robots remotely is called ______.

Remote-controlled bomb disposal robots have been around for ______.

Japan is less troubled by fears about a robot ______.

Robots are used to make up for an acute labor ______.

Robotic hands are not as ______ as human hands.

We know what pressure to apply, how not to break ______, and so on.

The defence-computer network ______ gains self-awareness in the Terminator series.

Retail Automation in Japan

Telexistence is testing a robot resembling a kangaroo to stock shelves at a Japanese convenience store.
Family Mart plans to use robot workers at 20 Tokyo stores after the trial.
Initially, robots will be operated remotely until their AI learns human movements.
This trial is intended to spark a wave of retail automation in Japan.

Elderly Care Robots

Engineers are advised to focus on simple, practical robots for elderly care instead of flashy, expensive ones.
This advice is due to the possibility that Japanese may still prefer human caretakers.
There is a substantial elderly population in Japan, creating a need for care solutions.

Robotics in Japan: A Historical Perspective

Industrial robots were key to Japan's economic revival in the 1960s, addressing labor shortages.
Japan became a major exporter of industrial robots after automating its own manufacturing lines, boosting efficiency and production.

Robotics in the West

The "Terminator" series depicts a dystopian future where robots threaten humanity due to self-aware AI.
Western anxieties about robots are portrayed in sci-fi, contrasting with Japan's more practical approach.

Telerobotics and Teleoperation

Telerobotics involves controlling robots remotely, allowing one operator to manage multiple robots in different locations.
The concept is explored in dystopian sci-fi and has practical applications, such as bomb disposal robots and food delivery in the COVID-19 era.

Limitations of Robotics

Robots still lack the dexterity of human hands, hindering their effectiveness in tasks involving handling and moving objects.
This limitation applies to tasks like object manipulation in shops and warehouses.

This quiz explores the advancements in robotics within Japan, including retail automation, elderly care solutions, and the historical impact of industrial robots. Understand how Japan has transformed its economy through robotics and what the future holds for this technology in both retail and caregiving.