Skylar
Japan is serving as a test bank for robotic assistants in many domains.
In several restaurants in the center of Tokyo, robotic felines slide effortlessly between the tablesbalancing trays of steaming dishes.
Common movement of the ears and a cheerful “miau”os robots announce the delivery of fresh foods, as perfect e pizzasoften with laughter of customer satisfaction.
The robot cats are from Skylark Holdings Co.the largest chain of table service in the country, which installed about 3000 robots of this type to help employees managing the relentless rhythm of a busy shift. But this is far from being the only company to bet on robots in Japan.
According to the, confronted with the aging of the population and the reduction of the workforce, the Japanese companies are automate to keep operations running smoothly. And in no other sector this change is more evident than in the services sector.
Japan has been struggling with demographic problems for years and the situation only tends to get worse. According to the Recruit Works Institutethe country will face a shortage of labor from 11 million workers until 2040.
However, the projections supported by the government estimate that in 2065, almost 40% of the Japanese population will be 65 years or more. With fewer young people entering the job market and immigration in Japan to be extremely restricted, the Companies are being forced to rethink their operation.
Service robots are proving to be a practical solution. Initially, they were considered a novelty than a true solution, but they seem to be working.
These automated helpers are designed to work alongside humans and not to replace themfacilitating companies the hiring of older or foreign workers who could otherwise have difficulties with physical demands or linguistic work barriers.
The service robot market in Japan is growing. The investigation company Fuji Keizai provides that, in 2030, the Sector will be worth more than 2.47 billion eurosalmost triple the value of 2024. This increase is driven not only by necessity, but also by the technological advances that made robots more efficient and accessible to companies of all dimensions.
These robots are often equipped with 3D sensors that allow navigation in places with many people while carrying heavy food trays. Cuteness is a bonus; Not paying salary is another bonus.
But service robots are not just limited to restaurants. In an industry that faces an even greater crisis – that of the elderly care – Automation is becoming a necessity.
In the elderly care facilities, robots are helping care providers to lift residentsa Monitor your health and make them company. They can monitor vital signs and help with mobility, relieving the burden of human personnel.
As the country’s population ages, the looking for care for the elderly The number of care providers available quickly is rapidly surpassing.
The nursing sector, with difficulties in filling vacancies, had only one candidate for every 4.25 job vacancies in December 2024. With projections indicating an aggravation of the deficit of care providers, Automation is increasingly seen as a salvation board.
One of the latest advances in this domain is the AIRECone humanoid robot with Developed at the University of Waseda, which can help health care providers, helping elderly sick to roll, sit down and even put on socks-tasks that are physically demanding for human workers.
“Given the advanced aging of our society and the decline in the number of births, we will need the support of robots for medical care and the elderly, as well as in our daily lives,” he told the Reuters Shigeki SuganoProfessor at the University of Waseda who leads AIREC’s investigation with government funding.
In facilities like Zenkoukai in Tokyo, robots are already playing a role, although more limited. Some help residents to stretchwhile others act as sleep monitors, monitoring vital signs and alerting staff for irregularities.
Care providers are cautiously optimistic about the potential of more advanced robotic assistants, especially those equipped with capable of adapting to the individual needs of patients.
“If we have robots equipped with AI who can understand the living conditions and personal characteristics of each care receiver, there may be a future for them to directly provide nursing care,” he said Takaki Itoa care provider in Zenkoukai.
But, he warned, “I don’t think robots can understand all about nursing care. I hope robots and humans work together to improve nursing care.”
As advanced as robots become, their success depends on a crucial factor: public acceptance. If people do not want a robot to serve them coffee, they will not have it, regardless of the robot’s performance.
It is for this reason that Japan is considered a rehearsal bank for the rest of the world.
Japan has long been a world leader in the domain of robotics and its cultural attitude towards automation is one of the main reasons for this.
Unlike some Western countries, where automation is often viewed with skepticism due to the fear of loss of jobs, Japan has been adopting robots as helpers rather than threats.
Popular culture, from anime to the real world, has fostered a feeling of familiarity and even affection for machines.
This cultural opening It plays an important role in the harmonious transition of robots to workplaces. In restaurants, robots should not be staff competitors, but teammates that facilitate their workload.
Similarly, in the elderly care facilities, robotic assistants are being welcomed as a need to complement humans.
However, for automation to thrive beyond Japan, other societies may have to go through a change of perception – a perception that sees robots as a complement of human efforts and not as a substitute.
Japan’s experience with the integration of restaurant robots in restaurants can help shape the future of the automation of care for the elderly.
The main challenge will be to ensure that these machines do more than just performing scheduled tasks – that They can adapt, learn and complement human workers.
Teresa Oliveira Campos, Zap //
