EASY ON THE STARCH, I, ROBOT

ASEE Prism, Sep 2004 by Grose, Thomas K

ROBOTS

FROM THE Jetsons' various robotic , helpers to Star Wars' endearing duo, R2D2 and 3CPO, humanoid robots have pretty much remained in the realm of science fiction. But Japan now believes humanoid robots will soon become a big industry. Its Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry has formed a study group, Vision of Robots in the Future, and has made available $28 million this year for robot development. Japanese officials think that consumer-friendly bots will be in mass production by 2010. Robot expert Yiannis Demiris of London's Imperial College applauds Japan's initiative-"It's a noble goal"-but doubts that a machine that can operate among humans can be produced within six years. Safety and the bots' need to "see" and comprehend an unpredictable environment are major hurdles to overcome. The first products will be basic, Demiris predicts, like a robot that can iron shirts. -TG