Representative Director, President and CEO, FANUC Corporation
【iREX 2023】Interview with Mr. Yamaguchi, Chairperson of Japan Robot Association
iREX 2023［INTERNATIONAL ROBOT EXHIBITION 2023］
Ms. Christine Haruka, a supporter of the International Robot Exhibition,interviewed
Mr. Kenji Yamaguchi(Representative Director, President and CEO of Fanuc)
about the Robotics Industry.
【iREX 2023】 https://irex.nikkan.co.jp/
About Kenji Yamaguchi
At the iREX 2023 exhibition, Kenji Yamaguchi, Representative Director, President and CEO of Fanuc, spoke about the role of robotics in society. He stated that robots can free people from simple tasks and allow them to move into more creative work, contributing to a sustainable society. Yamaguchi said he expects robots to continue evolving and to become more common in daily life. Yamaguchi also commented on Japan's position in the industrial robotics sector. He said that Japanese robot manufacturers produce about half of the world's industrial robots and that he believes Japan continues to lead the industry globally. He emphasized that while robots themselves are becoming easier to use, system integrators remain important for combining robots with peripheral equipment to meet customer needs.
Transcript (36 segments)
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Christine0:07
Will productivity keep rising? People will be freed from simple tasks and move to more creative work, helping build a sustainable society. Are they working with people? Oh, robots might take our jobs. It's an interesting era.
Nice to meet you. I'm Christine.
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Kenji Yamaguchi0:29
I'm Yamaguchi from the Robot Pavilion. Nice to meet you.
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Christine0:40
I think we encounter robots much more often in daily life. But honestly, as a layperson, I still don't understand what a robot is. I'd like to ask you about that.
When I hear the word robot, I imagine something out of sci-fi. AI is developing rapidly. For example, smart speakers — we have one at home — do those count as robots?
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Kenji Yamaguchi1:24
Yes. Smart speakers and similar devices are now considered robots in a broad sense. In our industry, we define a robot by three basic elements: sensor systems, intelligent control systems, and drive/mechanical systems. These combine to create an intelligent machine. Sensors perceive the outside world, the control system processes it, and the drive system performs actions. That's our definition. And as you mentioned, smart speakers can also be seen as robots in a wider sense.
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Christine2:30
Considering that, robots are really becoming familiar in our lives.
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Kenji Yamaguchi2:35
Yes, that's right. In that sense, they are becoming more familiar. Different industries have their own trends. In the robotics world, there are two main categories: industrial robots and non-industrial or service robots. Currently, industrial robots dominate, especially after COVID-19 when labor shortages increased demand. They are expanding beyond traditional manufacturing into food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and logistics.
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Christine3:46
It's true that we order more things online and robots are active behind the scenes.
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Kenji Yamaguchi3:56
Yes. Logistics also faces labor shortages, and robots are increasingly used to rationalize operations. They are working behind the scenes in areas like mail order deliveries. While most robots are still in factories, service robots will continue to grow in areas like cleaning, security, and restaurants.
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Christine4:36
Could you give specific examples of service robots that are increasing?
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Kenji Yamaguchi4:41
Certainly. Service robots include cleaning robots, security robots, and restaurant robots. Another trend is collaborative robots that work alongside humans. Traditional high-speed robots operated inside safety cages, but now we have robots that stop on contact to avoid injury, allowing them to work right beside people.
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Christine5:28
So they work with people? If they bump into a person, they sense the force and stop, so they're harmless.
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Kenji Yamaguchi5:46
Yes. A single robot can work alone, but multiple robots connected via a network can coordinate to handle larger tasks. This requires technologies like collision avoidance and optimization for speed or energy efficiency. AI can be used to explore optimal coordination, making it possible for robots to cooperate effectively.
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Christine6:35
That's interesting. Do humans program the network, or does AI find the optimal setup?
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Kenji Yamaguchi6:48
Both are possible. For overall optimization, predetermined algorithms are often insufficient, so we use AI to search for the best way to operate—minimizing energy while maximizing speed. It's an interesting era. While the thinking part is complex, it's exciting. This allows humans to focus their energy elsewhere.
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Christine7:29
Right, so humans can dedicate more energy to creative work.
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Kenji Yamaguchi7:34
Exactly. Robots cover tasks that are difficult for humans, and by dividing work, we can create better manufacturing and society. I expect that.
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Christine7:55
After hearing your explanation, I really feel that robots are growing, evolving, and becoming more familiar. How should we think about robots now?
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Kenji Yamaguchi8:13
Robots are becoming easier to use, but they can't work alone—they need to be built into systems. This requires not just robot manufacturers but also peripheral equipment makers and system integrators (SIs) who understand customer needs and propose complete solutions. SIs are crucial for making robots more accessible. At the same time, robots still have lower capabilities than humans, so it's sometimes better for humans to prepare the environment to make robots work more easily. We call this 'robot-friendly': both sides adapt to achieve overall optimization.
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Christine9:38
What does it mean for humans to adapt to robots? Could you give an example?
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Kenji Yamaguchi9:42
For instance, most robots today don't walk on legs, so we can reduce steps or lower obstacles to create a working environment that suits them. By humans making small adjustments, both sides meet halfway. This lowers technical and cost barriers, expanding robot adoption.
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Christine10:25
Does that really make a big difference?
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Kenji Yamaguchi10:27
Yes, it broadens the areas where robots can be applied. Previously, we assumed humans could do many things, but realizing those capabilities with robots is costly and technically challenging. By lowering the bar a bit, we can promote wider use.
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Christine10:52
It's exciting to think robots will become even more familiar. Personally, I wish I had an assistant at home or work to boost my efficiency by about 1.5x. Is that just a dream?
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Kenji Yamaguchi11:32
Currently, that level is still a high hurdle. However, we already have specialized robots for dishwashing and cleaning. By gradually breaking down barriers between tasks, we can make such an assistant possible. But reaching the level you describe may take a bit more time. For now, robots are being used in restaurants for serving and in company reception areas.
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Christine12:05
What areas do you expect robots to expand into in the future?
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Kenji Yamaguchi12:08
In services, logistics is the most prominent. Beyond that, agriculture and construction are also starting to use robots, and these areas will likely grow. Where there are needs like labor shortages, robots will be increasingly deployed to solve problems. The trend of labor shortages won't change, so we must respond as an industry.
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Christine12:47
So robots help solve labor shortages, but some people worry about losing jobs. What about that?
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Kenji Yamaguchi13:01
Human history has always advanced alongside tools. Robots are tools, but they are different from previous tools. Both robots and humans have strengths, so we can complement each other. People working with robots can think about how to use them to boost productivity. The possibilities are infinite. Previously, robots worked separately from people; now they work alongside us, so new techniques and uses will emerge. People will be freed from simple tasks and shift to more creative work, contributing to a sustainable society.
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Christine13:56
I'm excited about coexisting with robots as reliable partners. From simply being tools, robots are advancing. They are already widely used, but where does Japan's robotics technology stand globally?
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Kenji Yamaguchi14:20
In industrial robotics, Japan continues to lead the world. Japanese manufacturers account for about half of the world's industrial robots. It's a very strong industry. In service robotics, European and American companies have been dominant, but Japanese firms have been catching up rapidly in recent years. I hope for further development.
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Christine14:48
It's exciting to see the evolution and progress of Japanese robots among global advancements.
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Kenji Yamaguchi15:03
Last year, the Japan Robot Association celebrated its 50th anniversary. Congratulations. Looking ahead, we are working on a vision for 2050, themed 'Sustainable Society Brought by Robotics.' We are discussing what kind of society we want to realize and how robot technology can contribute. Japan aims to continue leading the robotics industry toward 2050.
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Christine15:41
So the robotics industry is expanding with an eye on sustainability. I really feel that robots are already very familiar and will become even more indispensable. Finally, please share your thoughts on the upcoming International Robot Exhibition.
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Kenji Yamaguchi15:57
We want to use this exhibition—which brings together the latest robot technologies from around the world—to further promote robots. The 2023 International Robot Exhibition will be held at Tokyo Big Sight from November 29 to December 2, for four days once every two years. The world's latest robot technologies will gather. We look forward to meeting you there.