It is estimated that in Japan, the domestic robot market will be worth about 3 trillion yen in 2010. But there are no laws specifically regulating robots.

The Japanese government has created public tokku zones where its legal (with a permit from the local police station) to trot your robot around in public.

“To create robots that can coexist with humans in society, it’s necessary to conduct tests in public places, not only in labs,” said Yoichi Takamoto, an expert.

“Experiments outside labs also will help researchers see how ordinary people interact with robots, rather than just experts or those interested in science. Some may be afraid and keep away from the machines, but others may try to touch them. I think this is important in producing robots for daily use.”

From Daily Yomiuri, via Mobile Robotics.
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