Investors: Press Release
Update: GeckoSystems' CEO & Japanese Officials Set Agenda for "Life Support" Robot Summit
CONYERS, GA--(Marketwire - November 3, 2010) - GeckoSystems Intl. Corp. (PINKSHEETS: GOSY) announced today that their CEO, Martin Spencer, will be meeting with senior Japanese government officials per their request in early December to discuss the societal impacts of life support personal companion robots, such as GeckoSystems' CareBot(tm).
GeckoSystems is a dynamic leader in the emerging mobile robotics industry revolutionizing their development and usage with "Mobile Robot Solutions for Safety, Security and Service(tm)." GeckoSystems has been conducting the world's first, in-home elder care robot trials for nearly a year.
"We are very impressed (with) your effort to spread robot technology to the field, especially for the elderly care, showing on your website. Communication between CareBot and elderly was fascinating in the real caring field. In Japan, we are trying to establish the legal issues for developing and spreading elder care robot technologies to such areas. By doing this we would expect to open up the way to develop and establish Japanese standards and legal systems for personal robot providers," stated Dr. Kentaro Kotani, Professor, Kansai University, representing the Japanese government's New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).
"We are pleased and honored to meet with these senior Japanese government representatives to discuss many areas of mutual interest. As far as I know there are no specific laws for utilization of personal robots in Japan yet. I think Dr. Kotani and his sponsors, including NEDO, have started the research toward the new law. This is Agency under Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), like JETRO. It seems METI has now realized that it is very important to prepare the specific Law(s) for the personal robots to be used widely in the aging society, and had NEDO to take up this project. NEDO assigned the project to a foundation called Manufacturing Science and Technology Center (MSTC). Dr. Kotani is sponsored by this organization," stated Mr. Hajime Yasumatsu, Chairman, Yasu, Inc.
Accompanying Dr. Kotani will be Dr. Masahiro Kato from the Department of Robot Technology Promotion, Manufacturing Science and Technology Center (MSTC).
The present agenda for the meeting, includes, but is not limited to:
1. What are your thoughts on the safety policy of personal robots in the US where the product liability law is very severe?
2. What are your thoughts on the necessity that the government sets up some kind of regulatory approval system on personal robots like automobiles to secure the safety? If yes, what kind of regulatory approval system will be considered as appropriate?
3. What kind of care-giving tasks are expected socially for the robots in the US, and what are Gecko's business model and service image toward satisfying those social needs?
4. In order to wide-spread the robots among the general public, what kind of subsidizing program would be thought to be effective and necessary? (For example, in the case of Japan the user would apply for a grant and the government would give a subsidy from the taxpayers' money to the user. How would it be about in the US?)
At this time, GeckoSystems' management considers it to be prudent to not disclose their probable questions and areas of interest regarding this upcoming meeting.
The Japanese have their own eldercare crisis because of the size of their WWII widow population. Due to their understanding of the high costs of sufficient and appropriate eldercare, the Japanese government has spent one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) in grants (to Sanyo, Toshiba, Hitachi, Fujitsu, NEC, and others) over the last ten plus years to develop "life support" personal robots for their own eldercare crisis, yet no viable solutions have been developed by them.
"It is very satisfying to receive this international recognition for the dozens of years of hard work by the many engineers and programmers that have created our plethora of mobile robot solutions here at GeckoSystems. I believe their interest in us is due to the reality that we have a complete multitasking 'life support' robot product, the CareBot. Demonstrably, our on going world's first in home elder care robot trials continue to garner numerous significant domestic and international relationships for us regarding our business model, technologies available for licensing, and interest in joint domestic and international ventures. We continue to expect technology-licensing revenues to precede revenues from product manufacturing and sales.
"The cost saving benefits of GeckoSystems' suite of mobile robot technologies will generate multiple revenue streams for GeckoSystems in the form of licensing, royalties, training, and sales of various hardware systems and subsystems. I expect the synergies revealed in these confidential discussions to result in distribution into the Japanese market and to enable significant cost reductions in the systems and subsystems we import from Japan. As one would expect, licensing revenues and a more competitive cost structure will increase shareholder value and ROI for our stockholders," concluded Spencer.
About Dr. Kentaro Kotani:
Dr. Kotani is a researcher in the field of human-machine interaction. He is a member of the Investigation Committee for Personal Robot Law and Systems, commissioned by Japanese independent administrative institution to investigate desirable safe technology, laws, international standards and social system in Japan. He works for MSTC (Manufacturing Science and Technology Center) to which NEDO assigned the project.
Professor Kentaro Kotani, Ph.D.
Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
Faculty of Engineering Science, Kansai University 3-3-35,
Yamate-cho, Suita, OSAKA 564-8680, JAPAN
Tel (+81)6-6368-1121, ext.5596,
Fax (+81)6-6388-8785
E-mail: kotani@kansai-u.ac.jp
http://w3hfe.iecs.kansai-u.ac.jp/kotani/kotani1.html
About Dr. Masahiro Kato:
Masahiro Kato, Ph.D.
Department of Robot Technology Promotion,
Manufacturing Science and Technology Center
1989 MS, Electrical Engineering, Seikei University
2001 Dr. Eng., Mechanical Engineering, Waseda University
Research Background:
1989-2001 Hitachi, Ltd., Mechanical Engineering Research Laboratory, Researcher
2002-2008 Hitachi, Ltd., Central Research Laboratory, Researcher
2009-2011 Manufacturing Science and Technology Center (MSTC), Manager
Courses Taught:
The voice interactive human interface for the household appliance control Robot
About the Japanese Government's Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI):
In 1949, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry was reorganized and the Ministry of International Trade and Industry was established.
Its internal subdivisions consisted of eight bureaus: Minister's Secretariat, Trade Bureau, Trade Promotion Bureau, Enterprise Trade Bureau, Textile Trade Bureau, General Merchandise Trade Bureau, Machinery Trade Bureau, Chemical Trade Bureau, and Iron and Steel Trade Bureau
.
In addition, four agencies, Resources Agency, Small and Medium Enterprise Agency, Industrial Technology Agency, and Patent Office; eight regional trade and industry bureaus; and four regional coal bureaus were established as external subdivisions.
Excerpts from "One Hundred Actions to Launch Japan's New Growth Strategy:"
--Revise systems in medical and nursing care service sector and create related industries, digitize medical care, medical interaction, support new bio-industry creation, foster development of innovative medical equipment and life support robots, etc.
Fostering development of innovative medical equipment and life support robots, etc.
By taking advantage of the country's superior manufacturing technology, we will promote development and commercialization of innovative medical equipment, task-solving medical equipment, and life-support robots, which provide support for care and movement. Commercialization of the life-support robot is much expected in nursing care and other fields.
In accordance with the road map drawn for the purpose of obtaining international standards for the "Ten strategically important fields for international standardization" due to be determined within the current fiscal year, we will promote an appropriate international standardization compatible with the business strategy adopted by our industry. Especially in the Asian region, we will develop jointly with Asian countries such standards as are likely to adequately evaluate the strengths of Japanese products for presentation as international standards.
At the same time, we will create a safety and performance evaluation system that will permit superior products and technologies to be appropriately evaluated in advanced fields and thereby work to improve our capability of certification.
We will create R&D projects in accordance with the processes of not only technology development, but also international standardization, technological demonstration, and formulation of safety/performance standards, with an eye to commercialization and dissemination of subject technologies.
Promotion of R&D in cutting-edge fields:
In order for our country to maintain/improve its competitiveness over a long period, it is necessary to continue opening up frontiers across the world through technology and innovation. The government will therefore provide proactive support, especially for the promising ten cutting-edge fields as shown below.
1. Robots: Life support robot commercialization project
2. Aircraft: Small civil transport aircraft development survey
3. Space: R&D on advanced space systems incorporating miniaturization and other features
4. Etc.
For more information: http://www.meti.go.jp/english/aboutmeti/policy/2011policies.pdf
About New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO):
As Japan's largest public management organization promoting research and development, NEDO has a crucial mission to carry out.
Message from their Chairman, Mr. Seiji Murata:
"International competition in the field of research and development of advanced technology has increased considerably in recent years, and in order for Japan to secure and strengthen its industrial competitiveness in such a challenging environment, it is essential that the nation's research and development activities are promoted more strategically than ever before.
"As part of this endeavor, a number of important issues need to be addressed. For example, research activities must be organized and carried out so as to foster innovation, and suitable strategies having specific technology development targets must be promoted to enhance Japan's industrial competitiveness. An institutional framework that enables frontrunners to overcome obstacles hindering technological innovation must be supported as well. It is also necessary to promote commercialization of research results, develop strategies to secure intellectual property rights, and establish practical technology management policies. All of these as well as other issues need to be responsibly dealt with in a timely and appropriate manner.
"Since its establishment in 1980, and especially after its reorganization as an incorporated administrative agency in October 2003, NEDO has played a unique role in the field of technology development. As Japan's largest public research and development management organization, we will endeavor to more effectively promote advanced technology that will enhance Japan's industrial competitiveness and resolve energy and global environmental issues.
"After analyzing the latest domestic and international technology and market trends, NEDO selects and focuses on truly necessary projects by identifying the clear purpose and expected outcomes of the research. It strategically and intensively promotes research and development, leveraging the collective efforts of the industrial, academic and governmental sectors with the aim of achieving each project's research objectives.
"NEDO performs objective evaluations based on the latest technological and commercial trends, and thus is able to quickly revise the plan for a project, including acceleration, expansion, downsizing and termination."
"Promotion of R&D through the concept of "Selecting and Focusing"
After analyzing the latest domestic and international technology and market trends, NEDO selects and focuses on truly necessary projects by identifying the clear purpose and expected outcomes of the research. It strategically and intensively promotes research and development, leveraging the collective efforts of the industrial, academic and governmental sectors with the aim of achieving each project's research objectives.
Responsive revisions to project plans through objective evaluations
NEDO performs objective evaluations based on the latest technological and commercial trends, and thus is able to quickly revise the plan for a project, including acceleration, expansion, downsizing and termination.
For more information:
http://www.nedo.go.jp/english/introducing/index.html
About Yasu, Inc.:
Yasu is a U.S. corporation domiciled in Missouri that provides professional services including business development support, networking events, extensive market intelligence, access to bilingual Japanese businesses, and English to Japanese translation of sales and technical information.