R&D
Fujitsu Robot Project: HOAP Series

Robots, once the stuff of science fiction, are coming to life in Japan. Not giant industrial machines for manufacturing, but humanoid robots — machines that will interact with people and become a part of our daily lives. Fujitsu is playing a unique role in this exciting field.

Fujitsu's HOAP-2 is a humanoid robot that is small, simple and very versatile. Designed as a research vehicle, HOAP-2 is literally making great strides in helping scientists better understand where humanoid robotics will go and how it will get there.

Watching HOAP-2 walk around is almost like watching a toddler take his first steps. But in addition to climbing and descending stairs, standing up when it's lying down and kicking a ball around, it can also do headstands, Tai Chi, ceremonial SUMO stances and write its own name.

HOAP-2 is a fast learner because of how it was designed. HOAP, or Humanoid for Open Architecture Platform, represents a fundamentally different approach to creating humanoid robots. Instead of using the popular model-based approach to robot motion control, it harnesses the power of a neural network, processors that emulate the human brain and how it learns, to tackle movements and other tasks. This dynamically reconfigurable neural network, the first of its kind developed by Fujitsu for humanoid robots, speeds up and simplifies the huge computational task of motion generation. The neural network can also be expanded with little effort and requires minimal software to run.

"HOAP-2 is very easy to program and very easy to understand," says Fujitsu robotics researcher Riadh Zaier. (Interview date: Feb 4th, 2005) "In one day, you can program it with a new motion. It's open — you can do a lot of things in a very small time. And anyone can do it. That is its merit."

The technology is based on Central Pattern Generator (CPG) networks, which simulate the neural oscillator found in animals. This is combined with a Numerical Perturbation Method (NP) that quantifies the configuration and connection-weight status of the network. This combination, known as CPG/NP learning, is optimized in the new technology. In addition, Fujitsu has developed a software program, known as the Humanoid Movement-Generation System, which enables humanoid robots to learn a wide range of movements. In 2004, HOAP-2 received the Technical Innovation Awards from the Robotics Society of Japan.

HOAP-2, 50cm tall and weighing only 7kg, was engineered to let scientists learn along with the robot itself. A deeper understanding of robotics will be necessary as the market for next-generation robots has been estimated at 7.2 trillion yen in Japan by 2025. Experts foresee a robot in every household by then, doing housework and even acting as a family advisor.

"A robot is a computer with arms, and Fujitsu is a computer company," says Fumio Nagashima of the robotics group at Fujitsu Laboratories. (Interview date: Feb 4th, 2005) "In the next stage, the computer will have arms or legs or movable parts. That's why we're investigating mobility and new types of software for robots."

Current work on HOAP-2 is focused on making the robot a completely autonomously controlled system while its research team works on approaches to artificial intelligence. Nagashima, inspired by video games while in college, has experimented with AI methods using logical simulations and LISP programming, but thinks neural networks offer the best opportunities.

"I'm not sure what the final shape of the robot will be — it may be a room or a car or a humanoid robot — but the final goal is to realize some new form of intelligence," Nagashima says. "I believe this simulation of the human brain really has the possibility to attain intelligence."

HOAP

2 September 2004  Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Fujitsu Malaysia Presents The Humanoid Robot HOAP-2 Show at ACM2004

Kuala Lumpur, September 2, 2004 – Fujitsu (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, a member of the global group of Fujitsu companies, showcased range of Fujitsu's products including Fujitsu Notebooks, Fujitsu Scanners, Fujitsu Plasma Display, TRIOLE?, INTERSTAGE, PRIMEPOWER as well as demonstration of HUMANOID ROBOT HOAP-2 at Asean Communications and Multimedia Expo & Forum 2004 which is held at MIECC, Mines Resort, Kuala Lumpur from 2 to 5 September 2004.

3 October 2003  Singapore, Singapore

Fujitsu Asia Wins Best Product Launch Award at iX 2003

Singapore, October 3, 2003 – Fujitsu Asia today announced that HOAP, its miniature humanoid robot designed for wide application in research and development of robotic technologies, had won the Best Product Launch at iX 2003, the integrated exhibition and conference showcasing the regional infocomm industry.

27 March 2003  Tokyo, Japan

Fujitsu Laboratories Announces Breakthrough in Enabling Humanoid Robots to Learn Movement using Dynamically Reconfigurable Neural Networks

Tokyo, March 27, 2003 – Fujitsu Laboratories, Ltd. today announced that it has developed the world's first learning system for humanoid robots that uses a dynamically reconfigurable neural network(1) to enable the efficient learning of movement and motor coordination.

Other Robots

13 September 2005  Tokyo, Japan

Fujitsu Begins Limited Sales of Service Robot "enon" For Task Support in Offices and Commercial Establishments

Tokyo, September 13, 2005 – Fujitsu Frontech Limited and Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd. today announced that Fujitsu Frontech will begin limited sales of their new service robot, enon(TM), on a limited basis in Japan from September 13, 2005. Jointly developed by the two companies, enon is an advanced practical-use service robot that can assist in such tasks as providing guidance, escorting guests, transporting objects, and security patrolling.