TAMIO ARAI has been in this present post of Professor of Precision Engineering at the School of Engineering of the University of Tokyo since 1987. He is currently serving as a member of the Robot Policy Study Group.
Above : First broadcast on TV in 1963, Astro Boy was responsible for firing the interest in robots of many present-day Japanese robotics researchers.
Left : A tea-serving doll from the Edo period, recreated from a plan drawn in 1796. When the guest takes the tea the doll stops, turns around and returns to its original place.
Far left : A variety of robots enthralled visitors at different venues around the Expo 2005 Aichi.