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The race is on for Japanese robot manufacturers with the major competition coming from their neighbor Korea. Japan has long been the world leader in robot technology but the lack of interest from average consumers has slowed advancement in recent years. In the meantime Korea's robotics industry has grown in leaps and bounds with the government planning to place robots in each Korean household by 2020.
Korea is serious about creating the next generation of robots as shown by the Robot Ethics Code drafted last year with the intent of protecting robots and humans in the future. And earlier this year the National Assembly passed a bill which supports firms that market and develop intelligent robots.
The growing interest by the Korean government has put pressure on Japan's leading robot makers where four robot company start-ups have now joined hands to form an association. The association's aim is among other things to better market already existing household robots which clean, dance, feed, and watch over empty homes. They hope to increase the production of robots ten fold to around 200,000 to 300,000 units in five years.
As competition heats up in both countries the benefit is likely to fall onto consumers who will eventually see life improve thanks to the service of intelligent and friendly machines.
Arirang News
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