logo
Kawasaki Heavy teams with Foxconn to add 'nursebots' to robot lineup

Kawasaki Heavy teams with Foxconn to add 'nursebots' to robot lineup

Nikkei Asia15 hours ago
Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Foxconn modeled a new robotic nurse after Kawasaki Heavy's Nyokkey service robot, above. (Photo by Yuta Maeda)
MASASHI ISAWA
TOKYO -- Kawasaki Heavy Industries has teamed with Taiwanese manufacturer Foxconn to develop humanoid robots that are able to perform nursing tasks, with the aim of eventually expanding their use to other sectors.
The companies have already developed a nursing robot based on the Japanese company's service robot, Nyokkey. Pilot tests are underway at a hospital in Taiwan, where Foxconn, the world's biggest contract electronics manufacturer, is based.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Ex-Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Official Guilty of Insider Trading

timean hour ago

Ex-Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Official Guilty of Insider Trading

Tokyo, July 4 (Jiji Press)--Tokyo District Court on Friday sentenced a former employee of Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank to two years in prison, suspended for four years, for engaging in insider stock trading through the abuse of tender offer information before disclosure. In his trial presided by judge Reiko Kaihatsu, Hajime Katayama, 55, former chief of the Japanese trust bank's second stock transfer agency business department, was also fined 2 million yen and ordered to pay 61.4 million yen in additional penalty for his violation of the financial instruments and exchange law. Public prosecutors had demanded a two-year prison sentence, a fine of 2 million yen and a 61.4-million-yen additional penalty. The defendant "undermined financial market fairness and soundness by taking advantage of his position for his own benefits," the judge said. "There is no room for leniency in his motive of saving 20 million yen for his post-retirement life," the judge concluded. The judge refused the defense side's request for a reduction in the additional penalty, saying, "This cannot be treated as an exceptional case, because there are no particular circumstances that need to be taken into consideration." [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]

Nissan to start shipping EVs from China in 2026
Nissan to start shipping EVs from China in 2026

Nikkei Asia

timean hour ago

  • Nikkei Asia

Nissan to start shipping EVs from China in 2026

Nissan Motor's joint venture in China designed and developed the N7 electric sedan, pictured in Shenzhen in June. (Photo by Shizuka Tanabe) SHIZUKA TANABE GUANGZHOU, China -- Nissan Motor in 2026 will begin exporting electric vehicles from its plant in China to Southeast Asia, the Middle East and other markets, Nikkei has learned. The struggling Japanese automaker is reviewing its manufacturing operations around the world. It hopes to achieve a quick business turnaround by selling made-in-China EVs, which are competitive in price and performance, to many other markets.

US-brand car sales lag in Japan, highlighting lack of demand
US-brand car sales lag in Japan, highlighting lack of demand

The Mainichi

time2 hours ago

  • The Mainichi

US-brand car sales lag in Japan, highlighting lack of demand

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Just 7.8 percent of imported cars sold in Japan from January to June were from U.S.-branded automakers, industry data showed Friday, demonstrating the weak domestic demand for American-designed vehicles. Only 9,517 U.S.-branded vehicles were sold in Japan in the period, undercutting U.S. President Donald Trump's claim that more Japanese should be buying American imports to address his nation's trade deficit. Of the 121,243 units sold in the six-month period, Jeep -- owned by Netherlands-based multinational Stellantis NV -- was the best-selling U.S.-brand at 4,333 units, followed by General Motors Co.'s Chevrolet and Cadillac at 283 and 185, respectively, the Japan Automobile Importers Association said. In contrast, German brand Mercedes-Benz alone sold 25,015 vehicles in the period, with 90.4 percent of the cars imported to Japan coming from European manufacturers. Tesla Inc. of the United States does not disclose sales by country, but takes up almost all of the "others" category at 4,589 units, an association official said. The EV maker's imports were included in the U.S. figure. Despite their dire position, demand for American brands is growing, rising 17.2 percent from a year earlier, reflecting the popularity of new Cadillac and Jeep EVs, the association official said. Japan's imports of U.S. cars have been a focus in the ongoing negotiations over Trump's tariffs, with the president expressing dissatisfaction that so few U.S. cars are seen on Japanese roads. He has blamed Japanese nontariff barriers, such as differences in safety tests, for the situation. Japan, which does not impose tariffs on imported cars, says its rules and standards are in line with United Nations regulations, and that it does not implement particularly strict rules on such vehicles. Auto analysts say Japanese buyers are not attracted to the types of vehicle typically offered by American automakers, such as large pick-up trucks, with domestic consumers preferring smaller vehicles due to Japan's narrow roads. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba also said in parliament earlier this year that foreign automakers need to be mindful of Japanese consumers' preference for right-hand drive, fuel-efficient vehicles. "Foreign automakers have to produce cars that suit Japanese consumers and that is up to American companies," Ishiba said, adding that limited dealer networks are also a crucial factor contributing to aversion to U.S. brands. Foreign carmaker officials in Japan agree with Ishiba's assessment, with some stressing the key to expansion is to study and respond to domestic preferences and also to engage continuously with buyers through dealerships. "Our strength is accessibility with a network of 200 stores nationwide, allowing people in Japan to casually visit and experience (our cars) hands-on," said Takeshi Sawamura, senior manager at Volkswagen Group Japan K.K. "Japan's regulations are sometimes noted as nontariff barriers but the rules are moving toward" the global standard, Sawamura said. "What matters is whether we can produce cars that suit the Japanese market." Jin Narita, head of Stellantis Japan Ltd. -- which owns Italian, French and U.S. brands including Jeep, Alfa Romeo, Peugeot and Citroen -- said the company prioritizes having a wide range of products that are attractive to many Japanese drivers. "Stellantis cars are positioned between domestic makers' models and premium models. We offer unique models, such as Jeep that appeal" to consumers' adventurous side, Narita said.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store