Program

Moonshot Goal1Realization of a society in which human beings can be free from limitations of body, brain, space, and time by 2050.
Program Director (PD)HAGITA NorihiroChair and Professor, Art Science Department, Osaka University of Arts
Outline
To overcome the challenges of a declining birthrate, aging population and associated labor shortage, the key is to realize a society free from the limitations of body, brain, space, and time and allow people with various backgrounds and values – such as the elderly and those with responsibilities for nursing and childcare – to actively participate in society.
Our R&D will develop core technologies related to cyborgs and avatars, called ‘Cybernetic Avatars’, allowing expansion of human physical, cognitive and perceptual abilities. We will build ‘Cybernetic Avatar Infrastructure’ in the cloud while easing the acceptance of Cybernetic Avatars into future society.
Message from PD
Our human-centered R&D projects on Cybernetic Avatars will support the creation of cloud infrastructure and core technologies that enable a diverse range of social activities via remote operation. We also intend Cybernetic Avatars to augment the physical, cognitive and perceptual capabilities of people from various social and value backgrounds.
Cybernetic Avatars will be developed from the viewpoint of both providers and users in future society. Therefore our R&D projects should also do basic research on human stress caused by them, and methods to relieve this stress, while taking into account ethical, legal, social, and economic (ELSE) issues and information security. I hope these projects will help us adapt and adjust to a new human-centered ‘Cybernetic Avatar Life’.
R&D Projects
Selected in FY2020
*Cybernetic Avatar(CA)
The Realization of an Avatar-Symbiotic Society where Everyone can Perform Active Roles without Constraint
Project Manager | ISHIGURO Hiroshi Professor, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University |
---|---|
Outline | This project aims to realize an avatar-symbiotic society in which CAs allow everyone to perform active social roles without constraint. Through the teleoperation of multiple CAs that can fully transmit the user's actions, intentions, and reactions in scenarios which feature hospitality-rich dialogue, the user will be able to take part in various social activities (work, education, medical care, daily life, etc.). By 2050, our lifestyles will have dramatically changed. We will have greater freedom in our choice of location and how we spend our time, and technological advances will have enhanced our abilities. Our goal is to develop and implement avatar-symbiosis within a balanced society. |
Project Manager | KANAI Ryota Director, Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International (ATR) |
---|---|
Outline | This project aims to develop cybernetic avatars that can be controlled via intention. This intention will be estimated from brain activities and information observed on the surface of the human body and through interactions. We will integrate intention estimation methods using AI technologies, and enhance the functionality of cybernetic avatars controlled by brain machine interfaces (BMI) while considering ethical implications. By 2050, we will create the ultimate BMI-cybernetic avatars that can be freely operated by human intention. |
Cybernetic Avatar Technology and Social System Design for Harmonious Co-experience and Collective Ability
Project Manager | MINAMIZAWA Kouta Professor, Graduate School of Media Design, Keio University |
---|---|
Outline | This project aims to develop cybernetic avatar technologies that allow people to take full advantage of their abilities and share their variety of skills and experiences with many other people. Taking into account the social and ethical issues involved in the mutual utilization of physical skills and experiences, we will design a system that fits well with humans and society. By 2050 the inter-distribution of skills and experiences will allow people to link together and produce co-creations, and help realize a society in which everyone can freely engage in physical activities and challenges through cybernetic avatars. |
Selected in FY2022
The title and outline of the projects are subject to change after refinement.
Project Manager | ARAI Fumihito Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo |
---|---|
Outline | This project aims to develop Cybernetic Avatar inside the human body integrated with the milli-micro-nano scaled robotic systems and cyber-physical patient space, which will contribute to the basic technologies for preventing, diagnosing and treating disease by reaching the micropart in the living body. By 2050, we aim to develop Cybernetic Avatar inside the human body via which any affected part of the human body can be reached in a minimally invasive manner for maintaining health and preventing, diagnosing and treating disease, leading to a society of healthy longevity. |
Project Manager | SHIMPO Fumio Professor, Faculty of Policy Management, Keio University |
---|---|
Outline | This project aims to develop authentication, notarization and information security infrastructures which will be the foundation of Cybernetic-Avatars (CA) infrastructure, enabling the safe and secure use of CA by 2050. This will be realized by authentication of CA operators (user authentication technology), identification and authentication of CA (CA authentication), and ensuring connectivity and existence between operators (user entities) and the CA itself (CA notarization). In order to solve social issues which need to be overcome in order to realize an avatar lifestyle, an ELSE (Ethical, Legal, Social and Economic) research platform will be established, with the aim of developing a new dimension of legal field (AI, Robot and Avatar Law). |
Project Manager | MATSUMURA Takeshi Director, Wireless Systems Laboratory, Wireless Networks Research Center, Network Research Institute, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology |
---|---|
Outline | This project aims to develop an intelligent local wireless network that enables multiple CA control in a medium or wide area by coordinating multiple smart spot cells that optimize service areas according to CA activities. In addition, this project aims to establish a multi-pairing wireless platform that performs appropriate traffic control according to the communication quality with the operator via the Internet and the operation of each CA. By 2050, this project aims to realize a wireless platform allowing M operators to cooperatively control N CAs. |
Project Manager | YAMANISHI Yoko Professor, Faculty of Engineering, Kyushu University |
---|---|
Outline | This project aims to realize “Nano- and Micro-bio Avatars” which are epoch-making Nano- and Micro-biosystems utilizing bio-functions. By 2030, we will explore cutting-edge interdisciplinary research fields to trans-dimensionally understand molecular interactions and living-functions, and create avatar nanomaterials, avatar cells, and cybernetic evaluation systems. By 2050, we will realize "avatars" that can acquire and transmit information on demand within living organisms and individuals. |
Advisors
Click here to see the list of advisors
KITANO Hiroaki* | President & CEO, Sony Computer Science Laboratories, Inc. |
---|---|
DOI Miwako* | Auditor, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology |
INAMI Masahiko | Professor, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo |
OCHIAI Hiroyuki | Professor, Institute of Mathematics for Industry, Kyushu University |
KANOH Toshiyuki | Senior Chief Engineer, Data Science Research Laboratories, NEC Corporation |
KOBAYASHI Masahiro | President, HANAMIZUKI LAW OFFICE |
TSUBOI Takashi | Professor, Department of Mathematical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Musashino University |
TOKUDA Hideyuki | President, National Institution of Information and Communications Technology |
NOHARA Sawako | President & CEO, IPSe Marketing, Inc. |
HIGASHINO Teruo | Vice President, Kyoto Tachibana University |
FUJISAWA Kumi | Chairperson, Institute for International Socio-Economic Studies |
*Sub Program Director
News & Events
Sep. 1, 2022
2022/09/30 18:15
Events
Contact
Moonshot Goal 1 R&D Program Secretariat
Department of Moonshot Research and Development Program, Japan Science and Technology Agency
e-mail moonshot-goal1jst.go.jp