In Celebration of the Appearance of the New Journal

Ichiro Kato

Ex-President, Robotics Society of Japan., Professor, Waseda University

It is a great honor for me to extend my congratulations on the occasion of the foundation of this new journal of robotics and mechatronics. Although several academic societies and industrial associations in Japan publish periodicals dealing with robotics and mechatronics, there is no English edition in these fields. It is thus a breakthrough for such an English journal to be published in this country. Since I believe that the development of robotics and mechatronics will be best attained by close international cooperation, I hope this journal will contribute to the promotion of cooperation in these fields. H

ere, let me introduce my commitment to robotics. I started a study on artificial hands in 1963. But as a matter of fact, I did not know then that the first industrial robots had appeared in the United States in 1962. Just after the first symposium on robotics held in Tokyo in 1967, certain kinds of robots for industrial use developed in the United States were exhibited in the Harumi Trade Centre in Tokyo. These matters ignited the research and development of robots in Japan.

Robots are based on the combined technology of mechanisms and electronics, and robotics has come to play a leading role in the present industrialized world. Industrial robots now have an important place in industrial fields. I forecast that robots will coexist with mankind and assist us not only in industrial fields but also in almost all situations such as welfare and our personal lives.

As is well known, Japan is one of the centers in the world for robotics and mechatronics. That is the reason why I celebrate the new publication of this journal in Japan. It will be of significance to achieve greater international exchange of information and ideas by overcoming the barrier of the Japanese language. For the prospects of future robots - my robot, a personal or domestic robot - which will appear in the 21st century, I expect that this journal will play an important role.

In Celebration of the Foundation of the "Journal of Robotics and Mechatronics"

Makoto Kajitani

Professor, The University of Electro-Communications

It goes without saying that most manufactured products sustammg the recent Japanese industrial growth depend on mechatronics-based technology. Born in Japan in the middle of the 1970's, "Mechatronics" has now become a common word in the world, attaining the concept of a central or leading technology in today's industries with its progress. To our regret, however, no mechatronics-professed journal was found either in Japan or worldwide. It is a feat of planning in order to meet the expectations of engineers and researchers engaged in the study of mechatronics in all countries that the first international journal is being published for the world in Japan from which mechatronics originated. As one of the researchers looking forward to the development of mechatronics, I wish to express my gratitude and pleasure.

Mechatronics is a technology contriving to create value added through composition and fusion. Mechatronics-like conception is seen in the recent trends of industrial fields to search for new germs of alternation and fusion among different technologies or industries. We are in a time of creating new value through international fusion not only in the branch of technology but also in the spheres of politics and economy. The ultimate aim of developing mechatronics is to be of help to people's mental sufficiency and serenity. For this purpose, grounds are wanted for spiritual fusion among mechatronics engineers or researchers. I hope that this journal will not only be destined for the scientific phase but carry out an interphasic role for international intercourse among engineers and researchers.

It is an undeserved honor for me to be favored on the occasion of the foundation of this journal with the opportunity to offer my congratulations. I express my heartfelt wish that this journal will play a pivotal role in interchanging information related to robotics and mechatronics.

Congratulatory Messages

Russell H. Taylor

Editor, IEEE Transactions on Robotics and Automation

Congratulations on the establishment of the International Journal of Robotics and Mechatronics. I am confident that your new journal will make a significant contribution to the wider dissemination of the considerable body of excellent research that has hitherto been published in Japanese. I am looking forward to reading it.