GetRobo

tmsuk's deal with Microsoft

It's been a few weeks since Microsoft Japan announced that it will be teaming with tmsuk, the robotics startup that made Kiyomori. The press release said that the two companies will cooperate "to standardize software components" using the Microsoft Robotics Studio. So what does this mean? And what kind of impact will it have in Japan?

First of all, I got to talk with Yoichi Takamoto, founder and CEO of tmsuk in Los Angeles during WIRED NextFest. His explanation was this.

"We currently use Linux on our robots. Now that we have an alliance with Microsoft, we will try to make our robots work with Windows. But we don't know if that will work. At this point, what is decided upon is that Microsoft will let us use all their tools for free. In regards to how we will give them feedback, we have yet to decide on the details. We need to figure out whether tmsuk will receive royalties or patent fees or some other kind of technology transfer fees and in what scheme. We can't have just Microsoft profit from this relationship. The announcement came out first  but actually there are still lots to discuss about between the two companies before we move forward."

What do the people in the Japanese robotics industry think?

Said one CEO of a Japanese company that is in the robotics business. "I think this is a publicity stunt. Microsoft wanted to announce some kind of deal to show people that it is gaining support for its Robotics Studio." Since then Microsoft has announced a deal with ZMP, another robotics startup in Japan.

The Japanese government has been a bit concerned about Microsoft's moves in the robotics field, and one person close to the government said that "people are a bit relieved that the alliance was with tmsuk (and not a bigger company)."

Probably the best thing Microsoft has gained from this alliance is "tmsuk's connection with the Japanese universities" according to a couple of other people in the industry. tmsuk is well-known for having a good relationship with many of the major robotics labs throughout the country.   

There is an article on ROBOT CENTRAL too about this alliance. 

tmsuk's Kiyomori at WIRED NextFest 2007

A couple of videos of Kiyomori, the samurai robot made by tmsuk. It made an appearance at the WIRED NextFest 2007 in Los Angeles. It was the first time for any of tmsuk's robots to land in the U.S.  Kiyomori does walk like a real (short) samurai - because the armor is very heavy, humans would kind of walk that way too.

I wrote an article for ROBOT WATCH about NextFest in case you read Japanese.

Rescue robot after the quake - Interview with tmsuk CEO

  Robot manufacturer tmsuk Co. announced its newest rescue robot T-53 Enryu on July 17, a day after a major earthquake hit Niigata Prefecture of central Japan.

  Three weeks later, the company dispatched the robot to the devastated area so that it can help with cleaning up the debris. You can read a recent post on Engadget about T-53 Enryu – which name means the “helping dragon” in Japanese.

  The voluntary mission is important to tmsuk which wants to prove to the local governments that Enryu indeed is helpful so that they would decide to buy the robots.   

I got to talk with Yoichi Takamoto, founder and CEO of tmsuk, at his company in southern Japan in the end of July. Takamoto started tmsuk back in year 2000 thinking he wanted to develop robots that were not just fun and entertaining - which he thought too many Japanese companies were already focusing on - but that were useful. He thought robots foremost should be able to replace humans working on life-threatening tasks and since he wasn’t interested in working on military robots, he decided to develop robots that can be used in relief efforts.

Thus Enryu. T-53 Enryu can be operated both onboard and remotely and it’s two arms can pick up 100 kg each.

The Japanese government is trying to nurture and promote the country’s robot industry and has been increasing its funding into the research and development of related technologies.

But interestingly enough, Takamoto says the main obstacle right now is the fact that the Japanese government is reluctant to buy Enryu because “there is no precedent.” “No on has ever bought a rescue robot before and nobody wants to take the responsibility of being the first to do so,” explains Takamoto.

So now Takamoto is thinking of first selling his robot abroad. He has received inquiries from several Asian countries which are interested in either purchasing T-53 Enryu or teaming up with tmsuk to develop their own rescue robots. But ironically, says Takamoto, he is hearing rumors that the Japanese government is a bit demurred about his company spilling out the technology to countries abroad.

Takamoto is perplexed. “I need a precedent to be able to sell within Japan and now the government is trying to prevent me from making that precedent.”  Figuring out a way to break out of this dilemma is of course his primary occupation.

  Meanwhile, tmsuk’s robot will make its first landing in the U.S.in September. The biped samurai robot Kiyomori can be seen at the WIRED NextFest in Los Angeles.

(Photo: Takamoto with Kiyomori being prepared to be shipped to the U.S.)

Robots in Daycare

Nishi-Nippon Railroad Co., a transportation company in southern Japan, announced that it will introduce the security robot ROBORIOR into the daycare center that it operates. ROBORIOR is made by tmsuk, and will enable the parents to keep their eyes on their children in daycare using their cell phones. How the children interact with the robot would be interesting to see. May be a good research topic for an expert in human-robot interaction.