Japanese robotics expert to deliver lecture at NUST today

Islamabad, Dr. Takanori Shibata, a Japanese robotics expert and senior research scientist at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Japan, will deliver a ‘Science Lecture on Robot-Life Innovation with Therapeutic Robot: Paro’ at the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) today (Thursday).

Dr. Shibata is the inventor of a seal-like robot named ‘Paro’, the World’s Most Therapeutic Robot, by Guinness Book of World Records of 2002, who has visited Pakistan on several occasions in different capacities. The Embassy of Japan in Pakistan with the support of The Japan Foundation, has organised this lecture in collaboration with the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (SEECS), NUST, to provide an opportunity for students to learn about ‘Paro’ and its usefulness not only in the fields of science, but also as a form of therapy.

Dr. Shibata’s lecture will also be telecasted through video conferencing to other universities in Pakistan such as NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi, Frontier Women University, Peshawar, National University of Modern Languages (NUML), Islamabad, M. University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro, Sindh, Institute of Business Administration, Sukkur, NUST (EME, MCS, SEECS, PMA). A live demonstration of the therapeutic robot ‘Paro’ will also be given.

Japanese experts have been developing robots that provide psychological, physiological, and social effects to human beings through physical interaction. The appearances of these robots are that of real animals such as cat and seal. ‘Paro’ was developed, as a therapeutic robot and can be used as a companion at home and at hospitals, elderly institutions, schools and so on. Its appearance is that of a baby seal with tactile, vision, audition, and posture sensors, and 7 actuators beneath its soft white artificial anti-bacterial fur. Moreover, it has behaviour of generation system that generates real animal like movements.

Dr. Takanori Shibata and ‘Paro’ have received many awards including the ‘Robot of the Year’ by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan in 2006, the outstanding young person of the world award by Junior Chamber International in 2004, and the Japanese Prime Minister’s Award in 2003.