Home robots developed under the theme of "weak robots" will be released for the general public.

While there is no function to help with daily life, it is said that people who purchased it in advance said that it was "healing and attached."

Panasonic announced this at a press conference on the 7th.



This sphere-shaped domestic robot named "Nicobo" was developed under the theme of "weak robot" and does not have any functions to help with daily life.



When you call them or stroke their heads, they will occasionally return a greeting, wag their tails, or suddenly utter words or talk in their sleep.

Two years ago, when we pre-sold a limited number of 320 units, they were sold out in just over six hours. It makes me feel happy."



In response to these voices, the company decided to release one unit for the general public from May this year for more than 60,000 yen, and started accepting reservations from the 7th.

At the press conference, Mr. Yoichiro Masuda of Panasonic's product planning department said, "In the midst of the spread of IT technology, I purposely created a 'weak robot' this time. I feel richness and healing in my heart as contact decreases due to the influence of corona. I hope you can help me," he said.

What are the thoughts put into the developers of numerous “weak robots”?

Professor Michio Okada of Toyohashi University of Technology in Aichi Prefecture was also involved in the development of Nikobo.



Professor Okada specializes in human communication, and has created about 30 types of "weak robots" so far.



The impetus for creating this work was when he saw children actively taking care of the professor's self-made "cranks" robots. increase.



One of the robots I've made so far, named "Talking-Bones", tells me old stories, and I always forget what I'm talking about in the middle of the story.

For this reason, it is designed so that the listener complements it and completes the story together with the robot, which is characterized by fostering the kindness of the listener.



In addition, the "trash can robot" can move around looking for trash, but cannot pick it up, and makes gestures that tell people around it that there is trash on the ground.

This is designed so that the person who notices the garbage picks up the garbage instead of the robot.



All of them are designed to make up for the imperfections of robots, and if the people who come in contact with them accept the imperfections of "weak robots", they will develop kindness and eventually lead to the realization of a tolerant society. It means that Professor Okada's thoughts are included.

Professor Okada says, "We grew up in a society where it was 'good' to be able to do something alone, and furthermore, as convenient and perfect robots and machines became commonplace, arrogance and intolerance were drawn out. Human beings have many imperfections and rely on their surroundings, and in the sense of rediscovering their relationships with their surroundings by not hiding their imperfections and being supported by those around them, "weak robots" 'I think it will be a model,' he said.