PFN’s mobile manipulator has been selected as one of the projects to receive subsidies from Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry under its 2020 program to support Japanese startups combining software and hardware to open up new markets. From June 2020 to February 2021, PFN will use the subsidy to design the mobile manipulator’s hardware and perform field tests in various real-world settings.

Concept rendering of PFN’s mobile manipulator

PFN takes a vertically-integrated approach by developing the software, including the motor control layer that regulates physical interaction and safety, and designing the hardware, such as the arm, end effectors and mobile platform. By developing both hardware and software in-house, PFN can exclude unnecessary functions, minimize production costs, and enhance the product’s safety and performance.

Since announcing its “Robots for Everyone” vision in 2018, PFN has devoted itself to developing robots that can be installed at a low cost in various environments and support humans with their everyday needs. PFN will continue combining hardware technologies with its original strength in software technologies, such as deep learning for object recognition and control, to create practical robots that adapt flexibly in varying real-world conditions.

PFN is looking for partners and facilities that can participate in the field tests in Japan. Inquiries and suggestions are accepted via the contact form:
https://forms.gle/Sx3k4oSn71gowuVE9

投稿 Preferred Networks Begins Designing Mobile Manipulators for Mass Production は Preferred Networks, Inc. に最初に表示されました。

In recent years, the scope of robot activity has expanded from industrial use to medical care and logistics. However, there remain many technological issues in the field of service robots, which are required to integrate into individuals’ lives and make decisions and respond appropriately to various situations.

By combining their respective technologies and know-how, Toyota and PFN intend to develop service robots capable of learning in typical living environments and executing a variety of tasks.

Specifically, Toyota will first loan several dozen HSRs to PFN; over the following three years, the two companies will then collaborate in research and development. Toyota and PFN will share their respective development information and technologies, including existing intellectual property. The two companies will also be free to use the results of their joint research as they see fit. In this way, Toyota and PFN seek to accelerate development aimed at the practical realization of service robots.

Nobuhiko Koga, Chief Officer of Toyota’s Frontier Research Center, commented: “Since around 2004, Toyota has engaged in the development of partner robots that support both people with disabilities and the elderly, based on the concept of ‘coexisting with humans and assisting them in their daily lives.’ In 2012, we developed the HSR, which has a basic robotics platform for supporting independent living. Up to now, HSR has been used in research and development at 49 organizations in 13 countries including Japan, and has been highly praised as a robotics platform. Going forward toward our goal to develop service robots that better cater to the needs of our customers, we are excited by the prospect of collaborating in research and development with PFN, which boasts world-class intelligence technologies.”

Toru Nishikawa, President & CEO of PFN, said: “Since our establishment in 2014, at PFN we have used deep-learning to develop intelligent hardware for automobiles and industrial robots. At CEATEC Japan 2018, we demonstrated a robot capable of cleaning a room in a fully automated manner; we applied deep-learning technologies to create an HSR that could pick up and put down undefined objects, draw up its own operation plans, and respond to human instructions. HSR is an outstanding robotic platform. By engaging in joint research and development with Toyota, who created the HSR, we hope to accelerate development of the functions necessary for robots to work in human living environments. Our goal is to realize the practical implementation of service robots for the first time in the world.”

Going forward, Toyota and PFN will work on joint development of service robots that have the intelligence to respond to various needs so that we can contribute to enhancing the quality of life for more people.

投稿 Toyota and Preferred Networks to Begin Joint Development on Service Robots that Cater to Market Needs は Preferred Networks, Inc. に最初に表示されました。

PFN is developing technology to create a society where robots can actively support our daily living activities. Unlike in controlled and regulated environments like factories, robots in the home need to respond flexibly to dynamic and complex situations and communicate naturally with humans.

At its exhibition booth (A060), PFN will demonstrate the new robot system using HSRs (Human Support Robots) developed by Toyota Motor Corporation and showcase their ability to keep a cluttered room neat and tidy. This has been difficult to achieve using conventional technologies based on object recognition and robot control. The deep learning-based robots can recognize various scattered household items like clothes, toys, and stationery, grasp and place them in their designated locations. In the demonstration, PFN will also show that these cleaning robots can be controlled intuitively through verbal and gestural instructions.

For technical details, please visit the website.
https://projects.preferred.jp/tidying-up-robot/en

The fully-autonomous tidying-up robot system has been awarded the Semi-Grand Prix in the Industry/Market category at CEATEC Award 2018, which recognizes innovative technologies, products, and services from among a large number of exhibits at CEATEC JAPAN 2018.

• PFN exhibition booth

・Dates/time：10:00–17:00 Oct. 16–19, 2018

・Location：Booth A060, Total Solutions Area, International Exhibition Hall 2

・Exhibit：Technical demonstration of personal robots “fully-autonomous, tidying-up robot system” (first public exhibition)

In addition, PFN President and CEO Toru Nishikawa will make a keynote speech entitled “Robots for Everyone” on the opening day of the CEATEC exhibition. As well as introducing the outlook on future technologies, he will explain how PFN is applying cutting-edge technologies of machine learning, deep learning, and robotics to solve real-world problems.

• CEATEC Keynote Future
• ・Date/Time： 12:30～13:15 Tuesday on Oct. 16, 2018・Location：Convention Hall, International Conference Hall, Makuhari Messe・Speaker：Preferred Networks President and CEO Toru Nishikawa・Title/outline：”Robots for Everyone”The possibilities of robots are rapidly expanding thanks to the advancement of machine learning technology. Fusing the machine learning technology with robotics is essential for making robots that can flexibly respond to unexpected situations and execute various tasks like a human. Soon, we will begin to see an increasing number of robots helping to perform tasks in many places, working alongside humans. As well as introducing the current technology and PFN’s new initiative, President Nishikawa will provide insight into how we can leverage technology in the new era of these kinds of robots and the outlook on future technologies.

投稿 Preferred Networks unveils a personal robot system at CEATEC Japan 2018, exhibiting fully-autonomous tidying-up robots は Preferred Networks, Inc. に最初に表示されました。