While the comfort and convenience of the ubiquitous networked society are becoming ever more of a reality, a number of problems threaten the future of that society, including the aging of populations and the increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters caused by global climate change. Fortunately, Japan is a world leader in fields such as science and electronics, and numerous Japanese universities and corporations are researching and developing innovative solutions to these problems, many of which utilize robots.
For example, various types of robots are under development that can be used when disasters occur. They can enter dangerous places where people cannot go and search for victims or determine the extent of the damage. It's surprising the sorts of places these robots can reach. Research is also underway into other types of robots and specialized electronic and electro-mechanical equipment for human-services-oriented purposes—especially solutions for improving the lives of people with physical disabilities such as impaired sight or hearing, or difficulty speaking or walking. Progress in this area is most welcome.
The many robots that have been built for diverse functions use large numbers of Renesas microcomputers, not only in their central control units, but also in other modules such as motor controllers. Our success in this area is due to the fact that, from development through to commercialization, these applications require the exact types of microcomputers we produce: devices that are easy to obtain, deliver high reliability, and incorporate value-added know-how acquired from extensive experience in the field of embedded systems. Today, as in the past, the broad Renesas microcomputer product range supports robotics research and development activities aimed at building a better future for mankind.
Significantly, we anticipate that control technologies and capabilities created or enhanced during the process of robotics R&D will bring additional benefits as they are applied directly or in modified form in embedded systems. Renesas is paying close attention to the exchange of advanced technologies between these two fields and plans to make use of key improvements and trends as we develop future microcomputers.
Part 1 of this Special Feature section is an interview with technology experts about the current state of robotics development and the role played by microcomputers. Part 2 consists of five stories that report on advanced robots and equipment at various universities in Japan. |
