Then
d
n
a
NOW
JAPANESE ROBOTICS
by Tom Carroll
I have a book on the robotics
bookshelf in my office entitled Inside
the Robot Kingdom by Frederik L.
Schodt. With a subtitle of “Japan,
Mechatronics, and the Coming
Robotopia,” Joe Engelberger, the
father of the industrial robot, commented about the book on the back
cover: “Western industrialists will learn
more about competing with Japan
from this book than from all the
how-to books that have proliferated
since Japan, Inc., became a popular
ogre.” The amazing thing is this book
was published in 1988, yet, is still
appropriate for understanding the
Japanese robotics industry. The author
admits that he is not a technology
person but rather was fascinated by
the acceptance of robots
into Japan’s industry and
society; quite a bit different
from the US at that time
and still today.
rove about carrying a cup of tea to
amaze the guests of the proud owner.
Figure 2 shows some of the
wooden gears of a Karakuri doll from
the Edo Period that was from 1603 to
1867. Notice the wooden ratchet and
pawl to the right and a brass and steel
version to the left. Cords and strings
on levers and pulleys pulled different
appendages in the doll. Figures 3 and
4 show a more recent metal-construction Karakuri robot and an
exploded view of its construction. The curiosity of
collectors around the
world has made the desire
for these unique robot
dolls the rage among all
sorts of hobbyists. This
interest is not just from those who
enjoy unique robots but for collectors
of all things Japanese.
Japanese Toy Robots
Between WW I and WW II and
afterwards, the Japanese began to
make toy robots that were instant hits
with kids. One of the most popular of
the Japanese robot toys in the early
‘40s was the ‘Robot Lilliput’ shown in
FIGURE 2. Gears from a 1796 Karakuri Robot
(courtesy of Altjapanant).
FIGURE 1. A Karakuri from the
British Museum.
The Earliest
Japanese
Robots
FIGURE 3. A
modern
Karakuri robot.
FIGURE 4. An exploded view
of the Karakuri.
Typical of the early
automatons of Europe and
America that were used to
amuse and entertain the
wealthy in the 17th century
and later, Japan also had
mechanical dolls called the
Karakuri ningyo. Figure 1
shows one of the more
ornate wooden wind-up
Karakuri ‘dolls’ that could
SERVO 12.2008 77
