In order to make it possible for self-driving delivery robots to navigate Japan’s streets, revised traffic laws will be implemented in April. The company’s management has high hopes that the machines will eventually be able to provide elderly people living in sparsely populated rural areas with access to goods and address a labor shortage in the country’s delivery industry.
Hisashi Taniguchi, president of Tokyo-based robotics company ZMP, acknowledges that in addition to traffic laws, there are obstacles to overcome, including safety concerns.
“They are still newcomers in human society, so it is natural that they are seen with a little discomfort.” At first, the delivery robots won’t operate entirely alone; humans will monitor them remotely and be able to intervene. Taniguchi stated that the robots must “be humble and lovable” in order to instill confidence.
ZMP has tested delivery robots in Tokyo with giants like Japan Post Holdings as a partner. Its DeliRo robot strives for a charming appearance with large, expressive eyes that can shed a tear of sorrow when pedestrians block its path.
He stated, “Every kid here knows its name.”
The cuteness serves a serious purpose. With nearly 30% of its citizens over the age of 65, Japan has one of the world’s oldest populations. Numerous people live in rural areas without easy access to basic necessities.
It is also difficult for businesses to keep up with the demands of e-commerce and delivery brought on by the pandemic because of labor shortages in its cities and new regulations restricting truck drivers’ overtime.
Engineer Dai Fujikawa of electronics giant Panasonic said, “The shortage of workers in transport will be a challenge in the future.” Panasonic is testing delivery robots in Tokyo and Fujisawa, which are nearby.
“I hope our robots will be used to fill in where needed and ease the labor shortage,” says the CEO.
In large cities, labor shortages are a major issue, and new regulations restricting truck drivers’ ability to work overtime also make it hard for businesses to keep up with the demand for e-commerce and delivery caused by the pandemic.
Although similar robots are already in use in China and Britain, Japan is concerned about everything from collisions to theft.
According to Yutaka Uchimura, a robotic engineering professor at Shibaura Institute of Technology, the “chances of severe injury in the event of a collision are relatively small” because the speed limit is set at 6 kilometers per hour.
“But if a robot moves off the sidewalk and collides with a car due to some discrepancy between the pre-installed location data and the actual environment, that would be extremely worrying,” Panasonic claims that its Hakobo robot can autonomously determine when to turn, detect obstacles like approaching bicycles and construction, and come to a stop.
