Japanese Robotics: Challenge and—Limited—Exemplar

At the end of 1982 Japan's robot population was triple that of the United States, and Japan's robot producers seemed positioned to dominate this strategic new industry. Underlying this early success was an elaborate set of government policies including low-interest loans, special depreciation allowances, and government-coordinated research projects. Many argue that the Japanese have been successful not only in developing their robotics industry but also in coping with the social impacts of this new technology. Their success, however, should not be overstated. Some Japanese fear that the introduction of robots may lead to record unemployment by the end of the decade. Women and certain other groups may already be disproportionately bearing the costs of the change in technology. This suggests that while we may have much to learn from Japan, it is a mistake to regard Japan as a paragon. What is needed is for Americans to study the Japanese experience with robotics, just as the Japanese routinely study our experiences, not to borrow uncritically but to seek new ideas and insights.