Welcome to ROBOLAW.ASIA

ROBOLAW.ASIA | Kyushu Initiative for Ethical Design and HRI (Ver. 3.0) is an interdisciplinary research organization focused on the study of Ethical, Legal and Social Issues (ELSI) in AI robots. It was established on December 1st 2023 in Motooka, Fukuoka, Japan. It is affiliated with the Inamori Frontier Program at the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS), Kyushu University.
       Since 2004, the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has published a series of robot policy guidelines which address business and safety issues for Next-Generation Robots. They predicted a “Human-Robot Coexistence Society” will emerge by 2030. Along this line, the Cabinet Office recently launched the Japanese Moonshot Research & Development Program which covers many long-term strategic goals for the development of Next-Generation Robots. Take the Moonshot Program’s 3rd Goal, which aims to bring about the “Realization of AI robots that autonomously learn, adapt to their environment, evolve in intelligence and act alongside human beings, by 2050” as an example. The Program’s member institute Hirata Laboratory, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University is now focused on creating a group of adaptable AI-enabled robots which will be made available in a variety of places. Each robot will be usable by anyone at any time and will adjust its form and functions according to the individual user to provide optimal assistance and services. However, the integration of Next-Generation Robots into human society is a gradual process, and we believe that the call to consider ELSI in AI robots is essential during the development stage.
       Accordingly, we have founded the ROBOLAW.ASIA organization to explore new possibilities in the intersection of artificial intelligence and the law. An advantageous feature of ROBOLAW.ASIA is that it will employ a research network to carry out interdisciplinary research. The formal structure will lie between a “research center” and a “research association” and will be formed by the agreement of multiple research institutions from different fields to promote challenging and innovative interdisciplinary research with their mutual support and collaboration. The current structure of the ROBOLAW.ASIA research network includes three functional hubs, ROBOLAW.ASIA (Ver. 1.0) in Changchunyuan, Beijing, ROBOLAW.ASIA (Ver. 2.0) in Aobayama, Sendai and ROBOLAW.ASIA (Ver. 3.0) in Motooka, Fukuoka. Through the strategic collaboration between the research network and the IEEE P7017™ Working Group, we hope to achieve innovative ELSI research results in AI robotics. ROBOLAW.ASIA will adhere to its original beliefs. On the one hand, it will aim to understand major trends in AI and robotics while also thinking about the optimal form and application of "robot law" in an Asian context.

• ROBOLAW.ASIA | YSAiL Initiative for Robotics, Law & Policy  Changchunyuan, Beijing
• ROBOLAW.ASIA | Tohoku Initiative for Artificial Intelligence & Law  Aobayama, Sendai
• ROBOLAW.ASIA | Kyushu Initiative for Ethical Design and HRI  Motooka, Fukuoka

About the Principal Investigator

• Dr. Yueh-Hsuan Weng: Associate Professor, Inamori Frontier Program, Institute for Advanced Study (IAS), Kyushu University [HP]
• Address: E-C-730, Motooka 744, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka, 819-0935, Japan
• E-mail: weng.yueh.hsuan.647[at]m.kyushu-u.ac.jp


• Dr. Yueh-Hsuan Weng: Associate Professor, Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences (FRIS), Tohoku University (Cross-appointment) [HP]
• Address: Aramaki aza Aoba 6-3, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8578, Japan
• E-mail: weng.yueh.hsuan.b1[at]tohoku..ac.jp

Media for ROBOLAW.ASIA

• "九州⼤学、若⼿研究者に年俸1000万円超 研究⼒向上狙う", NIKKEI 日本経済新聞, 01.11.2024 [LINK]

• "人間とロボットの共存する未来に向けて国際AI倫理標準規格IEEE P7017™ワーキンググループが発足", Tohoku University 東北大学, 04.10.2023 [LINK]

• "Call for Participation: Working Group for IEEE P7017™: Recommended Practice for Design-Centered Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) and Governance", Latest News, IEEE Robotics and Automation Society, 03.30.2023 [LINK]

• "打造機器人城市的夢想，在本世紀能夠實現嗎？ ", Business Next 數位時代, 07.09.2019 [LINK]

• "ロボット産業、中国が世界をリードか", InfoChina 日中新聞, 09.27.2018 [LINK]

• "机器人成中国工业革命切入点 外媒：中国或有望领先世界", Cankaoxiaoxi 參考消息, 09.26.2018 [LINK]

• "China's robot revolution, at your service", The Straits Times, 09.25.2018 [LINK]

• "인공지능은 기술적 만병통치약 아니다", Kyosu.net 교수신문, 09.03.2018 [LINK]

• "對機器人施暴，被處以刑法傷害罪？", Business Next 數位時代, 04.12.2018 [LINK]

• "為強人工智慧鋪路風險調控學問大", China Times 中時電子報, 10.11.2017 [LINK]

• "《以伦理为基础的设计》-在人工智能及自主系统中将人类福祉摆在优先地位的愿景（第一版）", IEEE China / IEEE 中国, 03.21.2017 [LINK]

• "机器伦理中的技术挑战", RoboticsChina 机器人网, 02.22.2017 [LINK]

• "Robot rights: at what point should an intelligent machine be considered a ?person??", The Conversation, 02.07.2017 [LINK]

• "WRC2016 世界机器人大会「人工智能的法律与政策」专题论坛在北京举行", Legal Daily 法制网, 10.25.2016 [LINK]

• "Opilec zranil robota, jak ho soudit?", ScienceMag.cz, 06.30.2016 [LINK]

• “无人驾驶入法前尚需过四关 或出现事故责任分配新体系”, Legal Weekly 法治周末, 03.15.2016 [LINK]

• "Save the Ugly Robots!", Slate, 01.19.2016 [LINK]

• "چرا روبات ها باید توانایی ” نافرمانی ” داشته باشند", Techera, 12.07.2015 [LINK]

• "Robots must learn to say 'no' for your own safety", Business Insider, 12.04.2015 [LINK]

• "Investigador quer direitos legais para robots", Noticias ao Minuto, 11.11.2015 [LINK]

• "This researcher has an interesting theory for why robots need legal rights", Business Insider, 11.10.2015 [LINK]

• "A drunk man's assault on a robot raises unusual legal issues", The Daily Dot, 10.06.2015 [LINK]

• "술 취한 사람이 인간형 로봇을 발로 찬 사건이 제기하는 법적 문제", MIRIAN, 10.06.2015 [LINK]

• "B?bado chuta rob? e julgamento pode definir nosso futuro ao lado de m?quinas inteligentes", GALILEU, 10.06.2015 [LINK]

• "Robotitevastane v?givald n?uab uut moraalikoodeksit", ERR.ee, 10.06.2015 [LINK]

• "Researcher says robots need to be protected by the law", GEARFUSE, 10.05.2015 [LINK]

• "Opilec nakopl robota, schopn?ho c?st lidsk? emoce", ??dn? velk? veda, 10.04.2015 [LINK]

• "Asiakkaan tuhoisa raivokohtaus sai asiantuntijat pohtimaan: "Pit?isik? humanoidirobotteja varten olla ihan uudenlaista lains??d?nt???"", T&T, 10.03.2015 [LINK]

• "Clovek napadl humanoidn?ho robota a byl zaV?ce na", E15, 10.03.2015 [LINK]

• "Incident of drunk man kicking humanoid robot raises legal questions", Phys.Org, 10.02.2015 [LINK]

• " La rete per il libero accesso al diritto", Almanacco della Scienza, 01.28.2015 [LINK]

• "Robot in China: The Bot Connection", CKGSB Knowledge 长江商学院评论, 11.11.2014 [LINK]

• "自動運転車は故意に人をはねることが許されるか？「ロボットと法」の議論を急げ ", Diamond Weekly 週刊ダイヤモンド, 06.10.2014 [LINK]

• "Robot jurisprudence: How to judge a ?bot; why it?s covered", The Economist, 09.25.2014 [LINK]

• "Foreign firms tighten their grip on Chinese robotics", China Economic Review 中国经济评论, 01.16.2014 [LINK]

• "Beyond Asimov: the struggle to develop a legal framework for robots", WIRED, 02.18.2013 [LINK]

• "The Global Race to Robot Law: 5th Place, China", Robotics Business Review, 10.19.2012 [LINK]

• "You, Robot?", The Economist, 09.01.2012 [LINK]

• "?Son Seguros Los Robots?", QUO, 06.16.2010 [LINK]

• "Ni homme ni machine", Philosophie, 09.01.2009 [LINK]

• "「ロボット倫理学」の現在：ロボットの責任や精神病もテーマに", WIRED, 07.30.2009 [LINK]

• "?jra kell ?rni a robotika h?rom t?rv?ny?t", Index.Hu, 07.28.2009 [LINK]

• "Robo-Ethicists Want to Revamp Asimov?s 3 Laws", WIRED, 07.22.2009 [LINK]

• "研究人员尝试建立机器人法律框架", People?s Daily 人民网, 06.29.2009 [LINK]

• "机器人社会需要超越机器人三定律", Solidot 奇客, 06.23.2009 [LINK]

• "Living Safely with Robots, Beyond Asimov's Laws", Phys.Org, 06.22.2009 [LINK]