ROBOSQUARE was founded in July of 2002, the year of “Robocup 2002 Fukuoka/Busan”, with the aim of forming “Silicon Valley of Robotics” in Fukuoka. Since then, Fukuoka City has been designated as a special structural reform zone, to encourage experimentation with the use of robots in public spaces. Research institutions from all over the country actively conducted experiments for the practical utilization of robots in this special unregulated district. Due to the success and media coverage of Fukuoka City's special designation, it has prompted and inspired authorization of experiments for robots in public spaces across the country.
Since April of 2004, in cooperation with Honda, ROBOSQUARE has offered special classes on the mechanisms of robots. These special classes have taken place at 75 primary schools in Fukuoka city, equivalent to about half of the total number primary schools in Fukuoka city. A part of this program includes demonstrations by Honda’s humanoid robot ASIMO, who walks, plays soccer and dances like a human. This tour demonstration has not only drawn students interests in science, but also been a productive site for them to imagine a high-tech-based future world.
In considering the impact of robots on children significantly important, ROBOSQUARE has conducted show and tell demonstrations at children’s hospitals. These live robot shows are held every weekend as part of a research project by the Humanoid R&D Center of Kyushu University’s Graduate School. ROBOSQUARE also encourages families to visit ROBOSQUARE events and facility for a unique and mind opening experience to touch, see, interact with and learn more about various robots.
ROBOSQUARE has helped conduct free rental of therapy robots to nursing homes for the elderly. Paro, the seal-type robot, was listed as the world’s most therapeutic robot, in the 2002 Guinness Book of Records. This interaction allowed elderly patients with perceptual disabilities to remember pets that they had in the past and prompted other patients who did not converse as much to start talking more openly.
ROBOSQUARE has already made significant contributions in terms of the coexistence of humans and robots in everyday live. As robots are already and will continue becoming a part of our daily lives, we at ROBOSQUARE will continue to offer various activities and information providing a starting point for robotic related research and giving people a better understanding of robotics.
It is the hope of ROBOSQUARE to bring these high-tech dreams to reality and to you.
Honorary Chairman of Robosquare Steering Committee Hiroshi Yoshida (Mayor of Fukuoka)
