Duck robot helping rice farming in Yamagata
A robot inspired by duck farming is playing an active part in reducing weed growth in terraced rice paddies in Yamagata Prefecture.
Robotics
Robotics
Chubu Electric invests in robotics
Chubu Electric Power Co. said Wednesday that it has invested in Groove X Inc., a robotics start-up based in Tokyo.
Japan’s 1st firefighting robot unit deployed in Chiba Pref.
The country’s first firefighting robot system has been deployed to the Ichihara City Fire Department in Ichihara, Chiba Prefecture, home to industrial zones in coastal and other areas. The system will battle blazes in hazardous locations that are difficult for firefighters to reach.
Japanese team takes 2nd in contest to map ocean floor
A Japanese team won second prize in an international race to accurately map the ocean floor using autonomous exploration robots, competition organizer XPrize Foundation announced at a ceremony in Monaco on Saturday.
NEDO drone test using satellite link is successful
The New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) and Sky Perfect JSAT Corp. have successfully conducted a test to detect a missing person in mountain areas using a drone operated via satellite communications.
Niigata shows off smart farm tech to G20 officials
The Niigata municipal government Sunday showed Group of 20 and other officials devices for smart agriculture, such as an autonomous rice-planting machine and a drone.
Next-gen wheelchairs vie for supremacy in Kawasaki
Eight teams from Japan and overseas participated in an electric wheelchair race in Kawasaki on Sunday, competing along a challening course.
Fanuc to build new plant to harness 5G and self-driving demand
Japanese industrial robot maker Fanuc plans to spend 3.5 billion yen ($28.3 million) on a new plant it hopes will help it capture business opportunities related to 5G smartphones and self-driving cars.
G20 farm ministers urge high-tech push, cross-sector cooperation to feed world's hungry
The Group of Twenty Agriculture Ministers Meeting concluded Sunday with calls to feed a growing global population and promote sustainable agriculture through new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, robotics and drones, and to increase cooperation among farmers, nonfarm businesses and academia.
Toyota launches second Silicon Valley investment fund
Toyota Motor's Silicon Valley-based venture capital arm has launched a second $100-million fund to invest in artificial intelligence and robotics technologies, the Japanese automaker said Thursday, in a bid to accelerate its investments in technology startups around the world.