Environment Design for Human-Robot Symbiosis - Introduction of WABOT-HOUSE Project -

In this article, we would like to introduce the WABOT-HOUSE project. The attraction of the Waseda University, the School of Science and Engineering, through the Gifu prefecture was the cue of the project. In consequence, the WABOT-HOUSE is the co-operation project with industrial and administrative sectors. Its goal is to encourage the regional industry and to develop region itself due to the new technology robotics in the Gifu prefecture. In order to prepare the lifestyle with robots and to launch the robotic industry, we need to create a demonstrative space and social system for human-robots symbiosis. Kagamigahara-City, where WABOT-HOUSE laboratory locates, has been already designated for the special zone for robotics by the Japanese government. We are also ready for conducting the pilot programs for robots. Therefore we research and develop not only robotics itself but also planning theories of space, construction methods and social systems for the human-robot symbiosis.