Service Robot enon from Fujitsu Acts as Visitors’ Guide at Museum of Best-Selling Mystery Novelist

-First implementation of latest enon model at a museum-

The Kyotaro Nishimura Museum, a museum featuring exhibits and works related to one of Japan's best-selling mystery novelists Kyotaro Nishimura, Fujitsu Frontech Limited, and Fujitsu Laboratories Limited today announced that enon, the service robot jointly developed by Fujitsu Frontech and Fujitsu Laboratories,will act as a visitors' guide at the Museum from September 21, 2007 on a permanent basis. This is the first such permanent implementation of enon at a museum. Since its launch in September 2005, field use of Fujitsu's service robot enon has been verified in various field applications in Japan. This newest implementation is the first for the latest model of enon, featuring enhancements based on feedback from past field applications of the former model.

There is much anticipation for the practical use of service robots in a wide range of applications, to enable a more enriched society and in view of declining birthrates and aging populations in many countries. Fujitsu's service robot enon, launched to the market in September 2005, a culmination of co-development by Fujitsu Laboratories and Fujitsu Frontech, has been implemented in field applications such as offices and commercial establishments. This latest implementation at Kyotaro Nishimura Museum is the first time that enon will be featured at a museum.

The Kyotaro Nishimura Museum was established in Yugawara, Japan in September 2001, and features various exhibits related to Mr. Nishimura, such as all of his novels, original manuscripts, and some of his private collections. Acting as a guide for these exhibits, enon will enable the Museum to enhance its service and hospitality toward visitors of the museum.

Figure 1: enon and Japanese mystery novelist Kyotaro Nishimura

1. Guide for the museum

When visitors arrive, enon will autonomously move toward the entrance, and by using voice and gestures along with the LCD screen on its chest, enon will provide commentary and guide visitors through the exhibits.

2. Video of Greetings from Kyotaro Nishimura

enon will play a video of Mr. Nishimura expressing his greetings to museum visitors.

3. Self-introduction by enon

enon will use voice and gestures to introduce itself and its functions to visitors.

4. Quiz on Kyotaro Nishimura

A quiz related to Mr. Nishimura will be displayed on the LCD screen on enon's chest, enabling museum visitors to interact with enon by taking the quiz. For visitors who answer all questions correctly, a commemorative certificate will be offered by the Museum for the visitors.

Unlike service robots limited to single tasks - such as cleaning robots, cargo robots, and security robots, enon is capable of multi-tasking these functions plus acting as a guide, as a single robot.

Hereafter, Fujitsu Frontech will continue to expand its marketing of enon across various industries, such as for sales promotion at commercial establishments, product search guidance, and security surveillance and transport of small parcels at factories or data centers.

About Fujitsu Frontech

As part of the Fujitsu group, Fujitsu Frontech Limited develops, manufactures and sells products such as ATMs, operation branch terminals, POS terminals, public display devices and offers related software, system integration and outsourcing as part of its total solutions offerings. The company also supports the security sector by offering products incorporating Fujitsu's latest palm vein authentication technology. Fujitsu Frontech is actively involved in the development of key technologies in various fields and is currently focusing on the areas of color electronic paper and service robots. For more information, please see: http://www.fujitsu.com/jp/frontech/en/

About Fujitsu Laboratories

Founded in 1968 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Fujitsu Limited, Fujitsu Laboratories Limited is one of the premier research centers in the world. With a global network of laboratories in Japan, China, the United States and Europe, the organization conducts a wide range of basic and applied research in the areas of Multimedia, Personal Systems, Networks, Peripherals, Advanced Materials and Electronic Devices. For more information, please see: http://jp.fujitsu.com/labs/en/

Company and product names referenced in this press release are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Information provided in this press release is accurate at time of publication and subject to change without advance notice.

Overview: New enon model

Key enhancements

1. Improved safety

Along with making the arms lighter and compact, the joints have been fitted with overload protection mechanisms. This increases safety, as the torque for the arms is automatically released when overloaded. In addition, the grippers are now made of urethane rubber and have a rounded shape.

Also, the number of sensors used to detect obstacles when moving autonomously has been increased from 5 to 11, and the layout of the sensors on the robot has been substantially revised to emphasize detection of obstacles in front of and behind the robot. A bumper switch has been added along the bottom, which will instantly halt the robot in the event it makes contact with something.

2. Speech synthesis in four languages

The robot can execute speech synthesis in Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean, making it better equipped to deal with the influx of foreign visitors to museums, commercial facilities, and other establishments.

3. Networking to external servers

The robot is equipped to link to servers, making it easier to monitor its service status remotely. This enables service instructions to be made in accordance with a schedule maintained on a server, acquiring of live images shot with the robot's cameras, and communication via an indoor PHS network.

Key Specifications

Specifications and design are subject to change without advance notice.