also known as Tokyo big sight

The glass and titanium panel convention center on Tokyo Bay

will be a main venue for the 2020 summer Olympics

but today, it's been taken over by robots

Robots, robots, robots...

There is flying robots

walking robots

rolling robots

there is a robot for almost any situation

we're here at Japan Robot Week 2014

where there are a lot of robots specific to Japan

Japan has a lot of natural disasters like

cunami, earthquakes and floods

and these robots can go to places where humans can not

there is always a lot of robots designed to help the elderly.

Japan has, of course, an aging population

I think my favourite is the X's skeleton. I got to try that one out!

Those look really cool

Why don't we split up and see what we can find

Readable 3: Automatic page turner

Wow, very cool!

The robotic solution to a very analogue problem of not being able to turn pages yourself

Many of the robots here have been designed for the elderly and disabled

and yes!

thet can be cute!

This demo robot from Kawada Industries comes from Tech already used in factories

He? She? or it!

The Nextage Cafe Robot can take orders via touch panel

1.) Order 2.) press Start

and the robot goes to work

the purpose is not to replace labour but give support during labour shortages

so don't worry about your barista job, just yet

this robot draws a crowd

it's a glimpse into the future

lights with sensors work as robot's eyes and touch

robots are part of Japan's plan for the future

with the declining birth rate and aging population

robotic technology is seen as a positive supporting role among people

it's been like this in Manga and Anime for the last 15 years

Careful with that coffee! It's hot!

Sometimes there are mishaps

Imagine if that was a basket of eggs

Mad chicken in every sandwich wrap

Barista is everywhere. Feeling good again!

During my walk about I stumbled upon toy-maker TAKARA TOMY's new robot

Robi Jr. / Humanoid robot 15,000 yen

The company provided me with my first robot in 1980's

ARMTRON

and OMNIBOT

But today, there is ROBI

What makes this little guy special?

An ability to communicate

"Oh sure, talk all you want!"

These kinds of robots are great company for elderly

who are home alone.

Or those stuck at home on a Friday night after a bad break up

"Hope you have a pleasant dream!"

Thanks little buddy!

Then, there is NEDO

Funded by the government to address energy and global environmental problems

as well as enhancing industrial tech

These robots in action are keeping us safer in Japan

So this robot is really unique

it can scale walls using suction cups

It goes up and analyzes whether are weak points in something like a pilon

Really high places

Takes that data and transmits it back to workers

who can repair and fortify those weak points

so things don't collapse

when there is an earthquake

Spiderman's got to be impressed!

This is a drone that's able to fly into the air

using camera and sensors

it can assess a situation

in a wade scale.

Take that data, transmit it to Emergency, and relief workers

an be able to

do a rescue plan much more quickly

and efficiently than ever before

This machine, here

has the ability to go underwater

And the purpose, again, is to assess the stability

of infrastructure, like dams.

Finding weak spots

and, again, transmitting that data

back to workers, where they can repair

or fortify

For this was used in the Fukushima reactor

to go in there and assess

where some of leakages were

It's got a camera and a heat sensor

and the ability to go through really

rugged situations

This robot went into Daiichi reactor

opening doors and climbing over debris

giving the first reports of the situation

Robots are nothing we should fear

I believe robotics supports

and enriches people's lives,

making them better.

With new technology

there may be small risks

but if people can allow that,

we can open new frontiers together.

We believe that

sending out this kind of message

is NEDO's mission.

Now onto X's skeletons

Humans fusing with machines?

Air propulsion

Futuristic jet packs

rubberized weapons?!!

Well, not exactly

Joseph and I had to try out the wearable tech

MUSCLE SUITS!

at the INNOPHYS TOKYO University of Science booths

pressurized air bursts

can be controlled to contract

and to expend

with the metal frame

making artificial muscle actions

You can be just like a comic book superhero

Could we lift 20 kilos?

without any effort at all?

This is easy!!

This muscle suits are super cool

but more importantly

they are becaming super helpful

for the elderly and disabled

How long before we see people walking with them on the street?

And will those people be wearing a cape and mask?

In Japan

anything is possible.

This is PARO

a therapeutic robot

built to provide company

to the lonely.

Many senior citizens are home alone

and this kind of robot is a way to curb depression

I'm not lonely, nor too old, but... you know what?

I want one!

So this robot is called PARO

"Paro the seal"

"Such a cutie!"

So this... has got sensors built in, all over its body

so it can sense when you're stroking it

when you touch its little whiskers

oh, does that tickle?

Did you know that Paro actually has a Guinness world record, too

Really?!! What was its record holder for ?

The most therapeutic robot

Oh!... You know I think that is very true.

Paro has proven to liven the spirits of people on long hospital stays

as well as kids with autism

The way it moves

closes an open its eyes

seems very life-like

So cute!

You can charge Paro with its electric pacifier

stick it in its mouth and let the little one

have a meal and a power-nap for a while.

Like with all furry pets you hold,

shedding remains a sticking point

In our episode, last time,

we met with Japan's most well known

humanoid robot: ASIMO

Free demo shows are available daily

at the Honda Welcome Plaza in Tokyo

You can see this tech in action all year round

Let's meet the newest robot in town

PEPPER

Brought to market by japanese mobile phone carrier: SOFTBANK

"Hello everyone. My name is Pepper."

Pepper's actions are all programmed by software

that is available to any developer

That's right!

You can soon have the ability to programme Pepper

the way you want to,

or buy apps pre-programmed by others.

Assisting, guiding,

entertaining,

Pepper can do it all

This artist programme for Pepper was made a week before the EXPO

Hey!...

You did it!

That's pretty good!

Not bad, eh?

IBM's game show genius server WATSON is also here

---"What would you like to ask me?"

Q: "What is the tallest mountain in Japan?"

Watson is powering this Pepper from Texas

A:"Mount Fuji"

Q:"Who was the first person to perform open heart surgery in South Africa?"

Christiaan Barnard

I didn't know that one!

The software robotics behind Pepper

was developed by Frech company

Aldebaran Robotics

Pepper has all sorts of sensors

cameras, and communication tools

open for creative programming

Dr. Angelica Lim explains why this is so exciting:

---"From now, artists, creatives..

...sales people, even

they are making robot applications.

Now anyone can become a robot creator

Where there used to be a lot of a bunch of scientist

Now, anyone can do it.

And that's why we see people like

comedians, are making applications on a robot.

So, this is a whole new paradigme

and everyone can contribute to that."

Here is NAO!

ALDEBARAN ROBOTICS is famous

for bringing this little one to life.

NAO has been around for a few years

and apart from other unique features,

makes the perfect dance partner

Especially for people who should stay off the dance floor

NAO's movements are just so full

of uncontained awesomeness

Yes! The robot world in Japan is rocking right now!

Helping people, saving the world.

Get ready for the techno-waves from the Rising Sun to hit your town, soon.

Robots in Japan have come a long way.

Go ahead,

take a bow!