Korea and Taiwan in Active Development of Robotics Technology   Source: Key Report/ Ya-Ling Lu With technological innovation unfolding at a rate of knots and in response to a rapidly aging society and a reduction in the birth rate, the use of robots will become a future trend and their development will be diversified. Robots will carry out numerous missions and will serve people in their daily lives. Europe, America, and Japan have all invested heavily in the research and development of robots. It is anticipated that by 2015 the production value of intelligent robots will have risen to US$200 billion globally.   Korea Looks to Introduce Ubiquitous Robotics In terms of R&D of technology or market expansion, the Industrial Technology Research Institute of Taiwan considers the next decade as the key to the machinery industry.  Therefore, it held a seminar in Taipei on September 27th, 2007, entitled “Leveraging Taiwan’s Competitive Advantages in Precision Machinery”. Dr. Chung-Cheh Pai was invited to give a speech on the topic: “Robotic Trends in Korea – Status and Revelations on the Development of Intelligent Robots in Korea”.   Korea defines an intelligent robot as a robot that has perception of its outside environment, has cognitive powers and so can exercise individual judgment, is mobile and can manipulate objects. An intelligent robot can comprehend human commands and emotions through interaction and uses information as a basis for communication.  It can perform a variety of services for humans.   The smallest robot developed in Taiwan is around 15cm tall and weighs 200g. Volume production and market release is expected next month.   The development of an intelligent robot can be divided into three stages.  First, a shared platform and supply-chain system are established and a virtual home network testing environment is made possible. Second, with the popularization of robot technology, a dedicated robot industry structure is configured. Finally, Internet connectivity is added to provide an environment that most closely meets human demands.   Robotics will help with the development of the following businesses in the future: holographic 3D video, new generation mobile telecommunication voice systems, text and image identification, and chip conversion technologies.  Embedded Linux systems for intelligent robotics systems will equip future automobiles with voice functions for information reporting technology and RFID technology.   In general, the development of intelligent robots in Korea has progressed smoothly due to its sound IT industry. The technology needed to manufacture robots is in place already and people are opening up to the idea of a future with manual labor being done by robots. Also, because it lacks the technology required to manufacture key components, Korea has entered in partnerships with American and Japanese manufacturers in order to pursue a flourishing robotics industry.   The information and communications industry in Korea will introduce a Ubiquitous Robotics Program to integrate robotics and communications technology and to develop robots capable of providing a host of services anytime, anywhere.  Robotics manufacturers will analyze future trends based on user needs, and develop robotic devices, application software, and components. Furthermore, they will combine with communications services to form a market dedicated to robots and robotic devices.  In the future, a household robot is likely to be introduced at a price of US$1,000.   Discovering Robots in Taiwan; Displaying the Latest in Taiwanese Robotic Technology The Robot Association held a “Discovering Robots in Taiwan” exhibition at the National Science and Technology Museum in Kaohsiung, where they displayed the results and technology of domestic efforts in the R&D of robots. The world’s smallest robot, which featured in the exhibition and is made in Taiwan, was a crowd favorite.   The exhibition was divided into four sections. “Introduction”, “Accessories and Modules”, "Scenario" for face-to-face interaction with robots, and finally “Exterior Design”.  The exhibition educated visitors on how robots are made from blueprint design to configuring internal structures and functions to the final product displayed before them.   Taiwan is proud to have developed the world’s smallest robot which is around 15cm tall and weighs 200g. Volume production and market launch is expected from next month. This robot has a “self-righting” function to pick itself up after a fall. If you fancy a cold soft drink, you can ask the so-called “soft drink fetching robot” to get you one.  Besides everyday life applications, the “soft drink fetching robot” can also be used, for example, to carry LCD panels ranging from 8 to 25 inches.  In addition, robots can also be used on the sea floor, where a “jelly fish robot” performs on schedule to the sound of the waves.  Visitors felt like Taro Kabashima lingering in the sea world.   On display are small-scale 6-axis machine arms capable of simultaneous movement or in coordination with peripheral equipment.   Taiwan has also developed related component parts.  For example, ICs for the American Football Robot “Spence” are manufactured in Taiwan.  In the future, Taiwan’s R&D focus will be on research into intelligent robots, sensor networks and rapid tooling.   Intelligent robots can be used for applications in the manufacturing industries such as automobiles, panels and electronics; for personal applications like cleaning, nursing and education; for professional applications in disaster relief, architecture, and healthcare; and as IT-based intelligent service robots that can carry out dialogues with people.   The “Indoor Multi-Functional Service Intelligent Robot" developed by National Chung Cheng University is about 170cm tall and weighs 100kg.  It can walk at 6 km/h.  This security robot can be integrated with a sensor, is capable of visual identification and can avoid obstructions or issue warnings.  It is a security guard, a rescuer, and a residential care provider.  This humanized robot can also detect high temperatures and call 911 or alert the authorities in the event of a fire.  In case it meets an obstruction, it will send a real time message to a remote monitoring system so that “flesh and blood” security guards can come to help.   Many Taiwanese tertiary institutes have devoted themselves to the R&D of robotics.  It is the organizer’s hope that by participation in domestic and international competitions, innovative concepts can be stimulated to develop robots to the degree  they fully meet human needs and through collaboration between the industry, academic circles and research institutes, an exchange platform for product release and technology can be configured to encourage further involvement from manufacturers and to facilitate the rapid growth of the robotics industry in Taiwan.