So here it is. Thanks to MK-san, I now have a copy of the Nikkei Business article from the most recent Aug. 27 issue. The news about Toyota and Sony is actually part of the cover story focusing on the new growth strategies of auto manufacturers. The main headline of the cover story is "Car Manufacturers Start Off to the New Horizon" and the subtitle is "SCOOP - Toyota buys Sony's Robotics Division." The following is a translation of the beginning of the cover story.
==Nikkei Business has discovered that Toyota Motor has purchased Sony's robotics research division.
Toyota, which celebrates it's 70th year in business this year, will be announcing it's mid and long term corporate vision by November when it is scheduled to hold its anniversary event. The company is thinking of including in this vision an outline of its future robot development which will be utilizing the technologies that it has bought.
Sony has led the robotics field in Japan by developing the pet robot AIBO and humanoid QRIO. However, when the company's core electronics division tumbled down into the red, management changed. Sir Howard Stringer who became chairman in June 2005 wasted no time in restructuring the money-losing organizations and more or less decided to withdraw from the robotics market and sell the related division.
He talked with Toyota Chairman Fujio Cho who was on the Sony board and negotiations proceeded. Toyota which aims to strengthen its robotics business "has brought in (Sony's) division including the personnel" according to one Toyota-related person familiar with the deal.
The origin of Toyota's robotics business is the industrial robots that it developed for use in its own factories. The Partner Robot Development Division was born out of the multijoint robots that are used in welding and coating. The fact that the Partner Robot group belongs to the Manufacturing Technology Headquarters shows how Toyota had positioned its robotics business until now.
The Partner Robot group has been successful in developing the artificial lips (among other things) for robots. In 2005 during the Aichi Expo the robots performed instruments for a large audience.
Toyota is currently planning on setting up a robotics research facility inside its Hirose Plant in Toyoda City of Aichi Prefecture. The company is thinking of 4 areas to which its robotics technologies can be applied - household chores, assistance in nursing and medical care, manufacturing and personal mobility.
Within this framework, the purchase of Sony's division is a turning point. Toyota's robots are set to spread out into areas outside of manufacturing.
Toyota President Katsuaki Watanabe talks about his firm's robotics business in the following way.
"Toyota's technologies should be utilized not just in manufacturing but in other areas such as nursing care. We have the best technologies when it comes to moving hands and feet. But if you want to decide (who's the best) by the (robot's) brain, it seems we are still not that good. So I've told the employees involved in this to thoroughly examine how we need to collaborate."
In other words, Toyota wants to expand its reach into welfare and services by coming out with new mobility platforms.
Sony has plenty of know-how in this field.
Sony started developent of its humanoid robot in 1997 and came out with its first generation model in 2000. The second generation robot that came out in 2002 was named QRIO and it was able to dance, recognize people's faces and have an easy conversation with people.
The robots collect the data from the many sensors and cameras on its feet and body and autonomously make decisions. Sony - which had developed robots from an entertainment standpoint - was better at processing data.
But Sony's robotics research subsidiary ceased operation in July of 2006 and the 13 employees that worked there were transferred to the lab of the parent company. Now some of them have moved their desks to Toyota's research division in Odaiba, Tokyo.
There is a reason for Toyota - which is famous for its sound management practices - to rush into the roboitcs business. It needs a breakthrough for further growth. When you take a look at its financials, the firm is expecting a consolidated net profit of 1.65 trillion yen for the fiscal year ending in March 2008. A spectacular year. No better timing than now to start building up its efforts in robots and personal transporters.==
And the story goes on about how the major Japanese auto companies are strategizing on emerging markets, software development, intellectual property management and so on, but I'll stop here.
Well, unfortunately the story didn't have much detail on the scheme of the deal, but one thing is for sure. We'll be seeing more robots coming out from Toyota and GetRobo will keep you posted.
It can recognize faces and communicate wirelessly with a PC, thus work as a walking security camera inside your house. And you can communicate with your robot using your cell phone. Like the first version, SPC-101C will read out your schedules and email messages by voice command. And make it dance too while doing that, if you prefer.
