The following are the outputs of the captioning taken during an IGF intervention. Although it is largely accurate, in some cases it may be incomplete or inaccurate due to inaudible passages or transcription errors. It is posted as an aid, but should not be treated as an authoritative record.
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>> KENJI IMAI: We would like to get started. First, I would like to start with my introduction. My name is Imai. I am responsible for the management and operation at the Kyoto College of Graduate Studies for Informatics. We call it KCGI, the operator of the Kyoto Registry. Our college considered Kyoto as a social education project and holds IT‑related seminars for people in the prefecture several times a year to provide useful information to everyone.
Today, I represent the case study for the Life Cafe, Robot Symbiosis Cafe, which aims at creating new job opportunities for individuals with disabilities in Kyoto, using the latest robotic technology. I am collaborating with this in the context of innovation, and I feel extremely honoured and happy for the opportunity to present this case at the IGF. We will have a question‑and‑answer session after the presentation, so if you have any questions, please ask via chat, if you are online, and we will answer as many questions as possible, as time permits.
So, I would like to introduce everyone on the panel at the Robot Symbiosis Cafe. On the left is, from the non‑profit Kyoto for Life, Mr. Inoue. In middle is Mr. Tanaka from the Labor Tourism Department of Kyoto Prefecture, and on the right is Ms. Leila Dailly, who works in the Sales and Design at Keigan Inc. I look forward to working with you all today. Thank you. I look forward to it as well.
So, could you start introducing yourself, Mr. Inoue from non‑profit Kyoto for Life?
>> MANABU INOUE: I am Inoue from Kyoto for Life, which is a non‑profit organization mainly engaged in project and support for economic‑dependent individuals with cognitive, physical, and mental disability based on the services and support for personal and Disability Act by providing them with a place to work that guarantees a minimum wage.
Location of the non‑profit organization is in Kyoto, so we work with the organizations and industry partners in Kyoto, enabling individuals with disabilities to work with confidence and pride by leveraging the unique characteristics of a local community and collaborating closely with local businesses.
So, the Robotic Symbiotic Affair project started when we wanted to allow people with disability to be able to work out of a consultation with the Kyoto‑based robotic companies and the prefecture of Kyoto, by operating robot through the Internet.
>> KENJI IMAI: Thank you, Mr. Inoue. Next, I respect Mr. Tanaka from the Kyoto Prefecture in the Department of Commerce Labor and Tourism, Manufacturing Promotion and Division.
>> KEIKO TANAKA: My name is Tanaka. I'm with the Department of Commerce, Labor, and Tourism in Kyoto Prefecture. First, I would like to briefly introduce the robot initiatives in Kyoto Prefecture. The Manufacturing Promotion Division supports SME and the manufacturing and processing industry in the prefecture, as well as content companies, such as games, videos, and start‑up companies. It promotes robots, one of the cutting‑edge technologies. And Japan used to be known as one of the world's leading robot‑producing countries. However, competitors have emerged in recent years in Japan, so no longer hold the number one position.
To recover, we set up the Robotic Engineering Centre in 2019 to reclaim the position, which supports the development of next‑generation technology, promotes the entry of small and medium‑sized enterprise and start‑ups in the prefecture into the robotics industry. And over 720 research and development projects and the demonstration tests have been conducted at the Robotic Engineering Centre. The number of companies that have reached in the social implementation stage and conducting field demonstration at various locations within the prefecture.
So, under the Robot Symbiosis Cafe initiative, we are conducting demonstration of remote customer services and serving food by individuals with disabilities in cafes, making a unique place where robots and humans work side by side in harmony.
>> KENJI IMAI: Finally, we have Ms. Leila Liza Dailly from Keigan Inc.
>> LEILA LIZA DAILLY: Thank you. I am from Keigan Inc. My company is a start‑up founded in Kyoto Prefecture in 2016. Our mission is quick and easy robot for everyone. And we have members not only from Japan but also from the United States, Europe, and Asia. Most of our personnel is from major electronics manufacturers, and we conduct development, manufacturing, and sales.
At the start of our entrepreneurial journey, we developed Keigan Motors as a model that makes it astonishingly easy to create robots. We have received feedback from customers across universities and R&D fields. So, we began offering more devised robots such as conveyor rollers and ABGs, response for request for use in factory production lines.
In 2022, we launched Keigan ALI Autonomous Robot, used in factories, warehouses, restaurants, et cetera. Customization is the key feature of our product, which gives us the flexibility to meet user demands, such as transporting items and fulfilling commercial communication roles.
>> KENJI IMAI: Thank you, Leila. So, all of you are working the Robot Symbiosis Cafe. Tell me how this got started. Let's start with Mr. Tanaka.
>> KEIKO TANAKA: Mr. Inoue consulted with me over the phone regarding the possibility of individuals with disability working remotely from home by operating robots through the Internet. At the same period, we conducted a panel discussion to expand on the network of acquaintances of researchers and business professionals in Keihanna Science City. Increasingly during this session, researchers working on robotics and executive managers rehabilitation‑related facilities, we discussed excitedly about the possibility of using robots to assist customer services in communication cafes. Since all these actors are coming together, I felt I had to do something about the conversation with Mr. Inoue. First, I started the project Robot Symbiosis Cafe.
>> KENJI IMAI: So, what exactly did Mr. Inoue consulted with you, Mr. Tanaka?
>> KEIKO TANAKA: Last year I visited a cafe where the customer service through robotic operation was already being implemented. However, when I looked at it, the communications and cognitive‑impaired individuals had difficulty using those robots, and I was not able to imagine an individual with severe disability operating those robots. Therefore, I reached out to the local companies collaborating with us on a regular basis and discussed the development of the robot that I had in mind at the time. And at the time, I was told about the Robotics Engineering Centre, and I called them promptly to discuss the prospect of enabling it.
>> KEIKO TANAKA: I still remember the inquiry. I doubted the feasibility, as no companies already developed the robots matching the requests, so I decided to approach to Keigan as a partner company of the Robotic Technology Centre, because we were holding a seminar on robots becoming a way of life, and they agreed to my request by customizing the existing service food robot so that I could find a solution for the equipment. So I was able to match that, too.
>> KENJI IMAI: We brought the actual robot used for the Robot Symbiosis Cafe. Would you like to demonstrate?
>> LEILA LIZA DAILLY: So, let me show you the actual robot. So, the person who is operating the robot is at home right now. And today we are operating by the team personnel out of our company.
>> KENJI IMAI: So, you call them as pilots, right? So, one of your employees at your company is going to be the pilot, so we can't really handle food and drinks at this venue, so we'll be carrying pamphlets, see how that works. Would you like to come up to the table? Because you know, nobody's sitting on those chairs. Thank you for the demonstration of the robot. Please continue to operate. So, you did the demonstration implementation in February. So, let me know how it went.
>> MANABU INOUE: This was done by the individual with a severe mental and physical disability who needed constant nursing care and those who need daily medical treatments for serious illnesses and those in so‑called social withdrawal state having difficulties stepping out of home. And those individuals still wish to work from home. And allowing them to work by allowing them to work from home by operating robot. That is the prospect of what we wanted to achieve through the Robot Symbiosis Cafe.
In the realm of supporting for those that are challenged with disabilities, this is a completely new thing. We want more and more people from the organization supporting individuals with disabilities to become aware that individuals with disabilities can work by remotely operating robots through simple operation, as it may open up new possibilities to new employment.
>> KENJI IMAI: So, how did you choose the people who will be doing the demonstrations test?
>> MANABU INOUE: For the pilot project, we consulted with the organization with social individuals facing social withdrawal in the community. The individual lacked computers and the Internet and expressed strong desire to participate.
>> KENJI IMAI: Tell us about the development of these robots.
>> MANABU INOUE: I personally don't know much about robots, but I request that it will be possible to operate the robot remotely from home, and I requested that, because of some of the pilots have limited hand dexterity, it should be made easy, so I requested operation to make it as simple as possible.
>> LEILA LIZA DAILLY: So, we decided that we use foot pedals, instead of, like, using keyboard, so it's easier for the pilot to operate. And we made it easier. Today, we brought the foot pedal that we used at that time. We use it at single table. So, this is the foot pedal that they step onto this pedal that I'm showing you right now. That's how they move/operate the robot.
So, our employee went to the home of those who are going to be the pilot, and we directly asked the questions, what would be easier for them to operate?
>> KENJI IMAI: So, I assume that people with disability have different kind of disability, that are distinctly different. So, could you give us an example, what are the difficulties in development?
>> LEILA LIZA DAILLY: Yes. So, they went through the training and they were very happy when they received training with many of the robots. We tried to improve the user interface so that they will not get too exhausted by operating them. The challenge for the future is how meticulously can we address their needs?
>> KENJI IMAI: I have previously heard that the start‑ups can handle requirements of flexibility that large companies cannot afford to do so. Could you please elaborate on this?
>> LEILA LIZA DAILLY: So, our company's specializing in providing the customer with the most suitable robot by minimizing basic functions and customizing the robots, so that's why we're good at it.
>> KENJI IMAI: When considering manufacturing a robot, I believe that the disability of the pilots can be diverse. Development costs will be high if you have to develop from scratch. What did you do to reduce the development cost?
>> LEILA LIZA DAILLY: We used existing serving food robot, what are the things that are used, so food. So, we kind of appropriated those existing robots. And adapting the foot pedal that is readily available in the market.
>> KENJI IMAI: I know that you will be continuing this initiative in the future, so how are you going to improve and continue with this project?
>> LEILA LIZA DAILLY: The most important aspect is clearly defining what kind of robots that are going to be manufactured. Individuals with disabilities who will be highlights will have various requirements. Also, as pilots, we become accustomed to maneuvering the report, they can make more tasks or they can address the needs rapidly. So, we want to evolve the robot by talking to individuals with disabilities, defining requirements for the kind of system that is best for them. And I want to be able to evolve the robots according to their needs.
>> KENJI IMAI: What are the key points of the demonstration tests?
>> KEIKO TANAKA: So, the customization and demonstration and individuality are the key points. So, in regards to customization, making improvements to our finished product is time‑consuming and can be expensive. So, the time and cost can be reduced by combining existing technology.
Next, regarding the demonstration on individuality, full automation using a robot requires time and cost for development. However, by skillfully combining human‑operated and robot automating areas, we can create a possibility where robots complement what humans cannot do, and humans, in turn, complement action that robot struggles with. Through this kind of initiative, we want to collaborate with everyone in creating warm and personal robots that allow individuals to express their uniqueness.
>> KENJI IMAI: So, that means that humans and robots should coexist by demonstrating their individuality instead of relying solely on robots for everything. What are your thoughts on this, Mr. Inoue?
>> MANABU INOUE: The pilots expressed a great joy about their experience in this project, saying that "I'm happy to be able to operate the robot and I want to try more customer interactions." And those support individuals in a state of social withdrawal were presently surprised that these individuals expressed a participate actively, which brought them immense happiness, and I hope that through demonstration tests in the future, individuals with disabilities will not only operate robots but will also interact with people through robots, participating in the society, and to be able to lead their lives working and earning a salary by themselves and society to be able to accept this as a norm.
>> KENJI IMAI: Could you share your thoughts on this, Leila?
>> LEILA LIZA DAILLY: Our company has been active in the role of manufacturing robots up to now and engineers tend to focus solely on manufacturing robots using cutting‑edge technologies. However, the Robot Symbiosis Cafe initiative, this gave us an opportunity to think about how to design our robot that can help pilots enhance their purpose in their lives and have meaningful job satisfaction.
>> KENJI IMAI: So, finally, what are the prospects for the future in this project, Mr. Tanaka?
>> KEIKO TANAKA: So, as the department in Kyoto Prefecture, we wish to continue to support development of robots. And I think it's important that we develop more partners, not just in the Department of Welfare, but also in the city and other administration and legislation cooperation. And through this cooperation, I hope to be more connected and collaborative with the welfare organizations. And I would like more businesses in our prefecture so that one of which has to do with publicity of these initiatives among the businesses.
>> KENJI IMAI: Ms. Leila?
>> LEILA LIZA DAILLY: Our company has this existing business estates, and in the future, we want to be able to address the needs of the individuals by customizing and help people with disabilities to be able to obtain a job, and not just helping with the efficiency of the product, but to be able to help every individual to contribute to the society.
>> KENJI IMAI: Final remarks, Mr. Inoue?
>> MANABU INOUE: So, personally, helping persons with disabilities, severe disability, to obtain some kind of employment and job, that is what I hope to do. So, those with severe disability, we are customizing these robots, so we're examining the feasibility if we can customize these robots to those with severe disabilities. And we want to be able to continue to develop talent who can be the pilots, and we will be collaborating with the schools that are helping the people with disabilities.
Through using robots, I hope the people with disabilities can have this confidence and pride in their work and their life to live better and to be able to cooperate with various stakeholders in supporting those with disabilities. And to our prospective partners, as the Prefecture of Kyoto has mentioned, I would like to talk to other support organizations who support the people with disability so that we can expand on supporting them in the future. And I think it's important for them to witness that this is something that can be achieved, and it will change their awareness.
>> KENJI IMAI: Thank you, all of the panelists. So, we would like to move on to the question‑and‑answer session. Is there anything on the online session that are asking questions of the chat? So, it seems that there is no one on the chat. But if you have any questions on the floor?
>> AUDIENCE: Thank you so much. I am from Benin. So, I would like to ask you about the development. How much was the cost to develop the robot? I am doing a research on robot development. But I am aware that it can be expensive. So, if there is a good advice for us to be able to reduce costs for development.
>> KENJI IMAI: So, this is a technical question. Could you, Takahashi, answer the question for us?
>> Takahashi: So, I am from the Keigan Inc., who is doing the robot manufacturing, robot development. About the cost, about the question. So, it took about three to five years in terms of the duration of the development. There has been many people who had helped us to develop the robot, so I cannot give you, like, a single answer about the cost. But we made efforts in reducing the cost. I was checking with the interpreter, if they needed time for consecutive translation, but it seems to be okay.
So, the start‑ups is something, is an element that is in the space, because using something that is as simple as possible, not to make it too complex so that we can reduce the cost, so that is the way I think that is a way to enable social implementation, by reducing complexity and keeping it simple. I hope that answers your questions.
>> KENJI IMAI: Is there any other questions on the floor or over the chat? So, I would like to wrap up this session. Thank you so much for your joining the session.