The winning strategy in humanoid development lies not in competing on all fronts to build complete systems, but in securing a position in components and within the ecosystem. In particular, technology in the actuation field could become a major strength for Japanese companies.
In the competition surrounding humanoids, the race to build complete systems has taken the lead, backed by massive investment in the United States and China. However, Nishiwaki (西脇) points out that the winning strategy for Japanese companies lies in securing a position within the ecosystem. A perspective that does not take competition to build complete systems as a prerequisite is important.
Joints, reducers and precision control are cited as areas where Japanese companies can demonstrate their strengths, all within the actuation field. Japanese players have strengths in mechanically oriented components, but continued technological advancement is required as Chinese companies make progress in in-house production. It is also argued that collaboration between overseas AI platforms and Japanese hardware should be the premise.
Intelligence is one component of the AI race, and it is not realistic for Japanese companies to control foundational AI on their own. It is important to design a collaborative model that combines reliable hardware with overseas AI platforms. Rather than trying to keep everything in-house, companies need to identify the technology areas they must control and work with partners.
In commercial operations, rather than waiting for PoCs to be completed, it is considered important to move quickly to small-scale implementation through hybrid operations, including remote control and semi-autonomous operation, and to accumulate data and knowledge. Changing mindsets at operating sites will be a factor that influences ROI.