Commercialization of Care Robots and Market Launch of Electric-Assist Walking Vehicles

「In light of changes in market needs resulting from changes in social conditions and the living environment, R&D of both products, the “independence-support fall-prevention robotic walking aid” (scheduled for launch in the fiscal year ending February 2021) and the “communication robot” (scheduled for launch in March 2022), has been discontinued.」

「As the novel coronavirus spread, the company became unable to proceed with demonstration tests due to the effects of the declaration of a state of emergency and priority preventive measures, among other factors. The launch dates for both products, the “independence-support fall-prevention robotic walking aid” (scheduled for launch in the fiscal year ending February 2021) and the “communication robot” (scheduled for launch in March 2022), have therefore been changed to undetermined.」

「Under “3. Establishment of the Care Robot Business,” development of the “independence-support fall-prevention robotic walking aid” is progressing toward a launch in the fiscal year ending February 2021, and market research was conducted in parallel to develop sales channels.」

「In the care robot field, we are conducting joint research on a fall-prevention robotic walking aid with the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, one of Japan’s largest research institutes, with broad expertise in industrial technology. In addition, for the communication robot, our project titled “Research and Development of a Communication Robot to Reduce Daily-Life Anxiety and Stress among People with Dementia: Development of Dementia-Friendly Equipment” was selected under the “Development and Standardisation Project for Robotic Care Equipment (Development Subsidy Project)” publicly solicited by the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED).」

「Under “3. Establishment of the Care Robot Business,” development of the “independence-support fall-prevention robotic walking aid” is progressing toward a launch in the fiscal year ending February 2021, while market research is being conducted in parallel to develop sales channels.」

「Under “3. Establishment of the Care Robot Business,” development of the “independence-support fall-prevention robotic walking aid” is progressing toward a launch in the fiscal year ending February 2021, while market research is being conducted in parallel to develop sales channels.」

「Under “3. Establishment of the Care Robot Business,” development of the “independence-support fall-prevention robotic walking aid” is progressing toward a launch in the fiscal year ending February 2021, while market research is being conducted in parallel to develop sales channels.」

「In addition, under “3. Commercialisation of Care Robots,” development of an indoor robotic walking aid to prevent falls at care facilities is progressing through joint development with the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, with a launch targeted for February 2021. Regarding the “Nurse Tapia” (“Nurse Tapia,” provisional name), a monitoring support robot for care facilities jointly developed with MJI, joint development has been discontinued and development of a monitoring-support communication robot independently by the company is under way.」

「The Group is pursuing its business activities under the following management policies: “1. Strengthening overseas sales,” “2. Brand strategy (developing new product series),” and “3. Commercialising care robots.”」

「In addition, under “3. Commercialisation of Care Robots,” we are jointly developing an indoor robotic walking aid to prevent falls at care facilities with the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, and are developing the “Nurse Tapia” (“Nurse Tapia,” provisional name), a monitoring support robot for care facilities, through joint development with MJI.」

「As one example of these activities, our company was selected for the theme of indoor mobility support equipment to prevent falls at care facilities under the “FY2017 Project to Establish a Collaborative Association Linking Needs and Seeds for Care Robots (Mobility Support),” publicly solicited by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.」

「In addition, under “3. Commercialisation of Care Robots,” we established the “Robotics R&D Center” in Shinbashi, Tokyo, in May 2017. At this “Robotics R&D Center,” we are working on development with the aim of launching an “electrically assisted walking aid” that meets the needs of the sites where it will be used in February 2020.」