Conducting Demonstration Experiments of Robot Technology Products and Services for Use in Offices

Bringing together convenient robot technologies that help improve office services and increase energy savings

Robot Laboratory hosted a five-day event entitled "Technology Matching Conference and Demonstration Experiments of Products and Services Using Robot Technology" at its facility from March 15 to 19, 2010.

Robot Laboratory supports demonstration experiments of products and under-development services using robot technology. The event was the second of its kind to be held by the organization, following a series of demonstration experiments held in February 2010 at Osaka City Hall and Crysta Nagahori. The latest event took place at Robot Laboratory and featured exhibits designed to give attendees an opportunity to experience firsthand a variety of products and services that are expected to see commercialization in the office space.

Robot technologies will change the office!
The event included exhibits and demonstrations of eight products and services. On March 17, companies conducting the demonstration experiments made presentations to and enthusiastically exchanged information with a large group of businesspeople attending a regular meeting of the RooBO Next-generation Robot Development Network. Participating companies and their products and services were as follows:

•Yashima Dengyo Co., Ltd.
Intelligent Wireless Control LED Illumination System
After replacing fluorescent lighting inside Robot Laboratory with LED light tubes for which the brightness can be individually controlled with the wireless ZigBee standard, the company demonstrated system operation by using an intuitive touch panel interface to switch lighting on and off and control its brightness. The interface displays power savings compared to fluorescent lighting. The company promoted the system's ability to help office save energy and visualize their energy use.

•Software Engineering Co., Ltd.
Panel Type Writer
This input device allows users to create their own touch panel layouts simply by using special software to design a paper form consisting of a graphic layout of the desired buttons and other panel elements. The form is then inserted underneath a touch panel. The device makes it easy to develop proprietary reception systems for company offices, a process that typically takes a significant amount of time and money. Suitable for use in a variety of applications such as administering questionnaires and profiling companies' operations, the system also yields benefits in terms of reducing the cost of face-to-face service.
The company's experiment focused on use of the system in a corporate reception setting and added communications functionality using Skype.

•Media Fish Co., Ltd.
ArtVision
This digital signage system varies the displayed video in response to the actions of people in front of the monitor. The company sought to test the system's suitability for use in applications such as providing information and guidance at attractions and in various facilities as well as for displaying commercials for products and services inside companies. The system is expected to see adoption at large facilities such as art and other museums and department stores, recreational facilities, and model condominium units.

•Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
SSFC contactless smart card office security system
Contactless smart card venue management system
The company exhibited and demonstrated a system allowing a single smart card to be used to manage office security by controlling access to doors, lockers, computers, copiers, and other equipment. One advantage of the system is the ease with which it can be deployed, thanks to the ability to easily combine equipment representing a variety of models and manufacturers as long as the devices in question support SSFC. In addition to providing a convenient way to manage venue attendees, the venue management system can be used in applications such as counting and verifying attendance thanks to its ability to generate log files detailing venue attendance and facility use.

•Nitta Corporation
Super-low-profile pressure sensor capable of recording movement data
RFID management of tools via long-distance communications
The super-low-profile pressure sensor capable of recording movement data has potential uses in analyzing foot traffic and behavior as attendees at a venue pass over a mat covered with pressure sensors. The company used the system in combination with a camera that captured images of attendees' feet to generate a count of people passing over the mat. The product is expected to see use in locations where privacy is a key consideration since it does not generate information that can be used to identify individuals. The RFID management of tools via long-distance communications concept uses small metal tags that can be attached to screwdrivers and other tools since, unlike similar tags currently in use, they can be bent and do not malfunction when attached to a metallic surface. Since stored data can easily be read using a handheld reader, these tags are expected to see use in the aeronautics industry and other fields where tool and instrument management is critical.

•Fujisoft Inc.
Parlo compact humanoid robot
This compact humanoid robot can walk and engage in conversation. It is expected to see use in a variety of office settings as a robot capable of functions such as acting as an attraction or digital signage and providing information to visitors.