Taiwan well-placed for humanoid robot applications: Expert

Taipei, Sept. 9 (CNA) Japanese robotics pioneer Hiroshi Ishiguro said Tuesday that Taiwan could play a key role in the humanoid robot sector by leveraging its strengths in semiconductors and key components.

Speaking after a presentation at the SEMICON Taiwan 2025 forum, the Osaka University professor, widely known as the "father of humanoid robots," said Taiwan should focus on creating diverse applications by integrating electronics, sensors and critical parts rather than competing with China on cost.

Ishiguro noted that avatar-based robot software, which allows remote interaction through virtual doubles, is likely to develop faster than full humanoid robots because of its convenience and adaptability.

He added that he was curious to see whether Taiwan's industry, academia, and society are as open as Japan to adopting avatar-based interactions, and did not rule out collaboration with local companies.

While artificial intelligence has made humanoid robots smarter than they were 25 years ago, Ishiguro cautioned that applications remain limited, particularly in tasks requiring dexterity and sensory precision.

He predicted it will take another 10 years before real market demand emerges.

Market demand, he said, remains the decisive factor, pointing to the eventual discontinuation of Honda's ASIMO and Sony's humanoid robots due to weak commercial uptake.

On China's rapid progress, Ishiguro acknowledged that Chinese humanoid robots are "significantly cheaper," making it difficult for Taiwan and Japan to compete directly.

He also said building a non-China supply chain for humanoid robots would be challenging because of the high production costs in other countries.

Despite these obstacles, Ishiguro stressed that Taiwan's position in semiconductors and component manufacturing gives it an opportunity to shape future applications.

Looking ahead, Ishiguro expects the humanoid robot market to materialize only after roughly another decade of development.