HiBot from inside

We finally moved to the new office! It’s a very nice place, very comfortable with nice light and more than that in a very nice area…or at least we all like it which is the best point!

We enjoyed preparing and thinking about the new layout for all people and we had a very big help also from close and good friends

Moving was a bit tough…especially the settings of the whole new network and such…we had a few issues also with the phone and fax line, but the support we got from NTT and all ohter companies were really good. Thanks a lot…due to some technical problems we had a 1 more day of stop with our server but then everything was back on track.

Please do not forget to check the new address as well the new phone and fax number…looking forward to get in touch with you again soon for some interesting new developments!

Also check out our website soon, we have several new interesting “things” in the “oven”

来月から、ハイボットは移転をすることになりました。現在の大田区から、目黒区へ移転します。移転先はこちらです。今までのドアtoドアの通勤往復2時間が、往復40分ぐらいに短縮される見込み。子育て真っ最中の私にとって、この約1時間半の労働時間増大はとても嬉しい。まさにタイムイズマネーです。最近は、娘の保育園お迎えギリギリまでオフィスにいるので、オフィスから蒲田駅までの徒歩15分の距離を、タクシーに乗ることもしばしば・・・。ポケットマネーが厳しいけど、でも貴重な10分の短縮。更に、自宅最寄の駅から走って保育園について、お迎え制限時間ギリギリ。娘が最後の一人でポツーンなんて日もありました。昨日は、基板製造業者さんと電話しながら電車に飛び乗ろうと階段を駆け足で上っていたら、ヒールが引っかかって靴が脱げ、急いで靴だけ拾って裸足で走り、電車に飛び乗ろうとしたんだけど、目の前でドアが閉められました・・・。「あうぅ～！」ってつい言葉に出てしまい、電話口の業者さんに笑われました・・・。

きっと皆さんと一緒で、毎日多忙なのですが、どんどんでてくる仕事を前に、どうやって仕事時間を作るか、がポイント。今の対処法その１は、要らない時間は切り詰める。ランチを買いに行く時間がもったいなくてランチ抜き。トイレ（これがまた、今のハイボットのオフィスルームから共有トイレまでが遠いんです！）に行くのがもったいなくて、そのうち忘れて、勤務中は一度もトイレに行かない日があったり。でも、ストレスにはなっていなくて、この忙しいのを楽しんでいるところもあるのです。なんというか、「“ワーキングマザー”っぽい！私！」という自己陶酔のような・・・（笑）。あと、子どもの存在が大きいです。娘を抱っこしてほっぺをすりすりして・・・、なんてやってるだけであっというまにリチャージ完了します。子どもの発散する無垢のエネルギーが伝わってくるからなんでしょうか。家族に感謝感謝です。

今回移転が決まったのは、こんな私の個人的な仕事時間が理由ではないのですが、それにしても、本当に嬉しい！これからもますます頑張って仕事をこなしていきますね～。移転で唯一惜しいのは、通勤電車＝読書時間が無くなることでしょうか。そういえば昨日、通勤時間内に読み終えることができなかったミステリー物を今日まで待てなくてついつい深夜に読み始め、寝たのが早朝3時半過ぎでした・・・。皆さんは、最近どんな本を読んでいらっしゃいますか？ミステリー物で面白いのがあったら教えてください。

さて、パウロとミケレは昨晩から日立へ出張中。レンタカーで行きました。試験はうまくいったのか・・・、報告待ちです。

This time, Michele and I came to Kyushu for some tests. We are working on a high-precision mission, but the details are still secret.

今回、ミケレと実験をするために九州まで来ました。高い精密なミッションですが、詳しくはまだ発表できません。

We’ve had a good impression of Kyushu so far. The people seem to be a little more relaxed and light-hearted than in Tokyo. Even at the airport we were greeted by penguins who were supposed to watch us in the baggage claim area.

九州の最初の印象はとても良くて、人達も東京より少しrelaxedで、陽気で明るい性格です。空港に到着してからわかりました。荷物受取所で担当のペンギンがいました。

A penguin!

The conveyor belts at the airport also bring giant plates of sushi, for those who are hungry after the flight.

旅でお腹の空いたお客様に、コンベアベルトに回転寿司も出てきます。

And some giant uni!

Whenever Michele and I meet new customers or partners, the talk, which starts technical, eventually converges to the following question:

Where are you from?

This is understandable, since HiBot is a Japanese company, selling components and robots (and ideas) made in Japan, but most of the people who deal with HiBot are dealing with two westerners. No matter how long Michele and I spend in Japan, no matter how well we learn to speak and write Japanese, our big noses will never let us pretend to be Japanese.

But neither do we want to be mistaken by Japanese. We believe that it is exactly this mixture of nationalities and technical fields that makes HiBot different from the other companies in this field.

Returning to the question, sometimes people try to guess where we are from, although most feel safer to simply ask. Those few brave who try to guess sometimes come up with some interesting nationalities for Michele:

-Russian

-German

-Equatorian (don’t ask me why!)

But very few people can guess correctly that Michele is from Italy. As for me, people who try to guess often think that I am:

-Italian

Which makes Michele slightly upset. But that’s life.

Once people learn that Michele is from Italy, they often reply with such comments:

Italy!

- I have been to Italy! To Rome and Milano, for 3 days.

- I went to Italy and ate very well. The pasta was excellent.

- I like Italian food and wine.

Until here, no harm done. But it happens quite often that when people learn that I am from Brazil, they reply with such enlightened and well-informed comments:

Brazil!

-Ah, I used to live and work in Brazil. I was based in Recife, but used to travel along the coast.

-You know, my wife was born in Brazil, in Minas Gerais. Her father was working there as manager of a Japanese factory.

- I used to work in Sao Paulo. I could speak Portuguese, but now I forgot almost everything. Have you been to Mato Grosso?

- Ah, Brazil! I have been there several times for work. I once went to Manaus, then another time to Belem, to Salvador and Sao Paulo.

I get impressed at how well these people know Brazil – most of them know Brazil even better than I do – and Michele, again, gets upset! But only slightly.

With the new year I got back to one of my hobbies: playing trumpet. It is good to play trumpet…music helps me in changing my mind. Not only robot!

Today I have practiced and basically mastered the song “PIACER D’AMOR” made by J.P.A. Martini (1741-1816). From this notes was created later on the music “CAN’T HELP FALLING IN LOVE“.

Although the name of the composer is Italian, he was not Italian but German. It looks like he decided to change his name into something that sounded Italian as it was probably cool at that time to be an Italian composer

In these days I am taking my daughter to music classes, basically children playing (dance, run, sing) together with the parents while listening to the music…it is impressive what music can do also with very young children. They slowly master it and start to express themselves in a beautiful way! Wonderful!

皆様こんにちは。キタノです。2010年もすでに20日がたちました。遅ればせながら、今年もよろしくお願いします。月日が流れるのは早いですね。 ２０１０年をどんな年にするかは自分の気持ち次第だ！なんて思いつつ、初詣に出掛けた神社でおみくじを引いてみました。出たのは中吉。マチビトキタル、とありました。マチビト・・・。誰かしら。運はやってくるもの。でも、それをどう生かすか、要はどう行動するかは自分で決めるもの。日々の時間を充実させていける一年にしたいと思います。

先日、九州に本社がある会社の方と開発の打ち合わせがありました。私が常々思ってきたことですが、ロボット開発担当のパウロミケレは、異業種で実際に作業現場に携わっている方と話すのが一番楽しそうです。自分達の機械的なアイデアが本当に使えるのかどうか、ユーザである現場の方の意見を聞くのが楽しいのでしょうね、きっと。先方の方からも、「異業種で各分野の専門の方々が集まり、意見交換をしている様はとても活気があり、未来を感じました。ロボットのプロであるハイボット様のアイディアを聞くのはとても新鮮で、有意義な時間を過ごすことができました。」とのお言葉を頂戴しました。本当にありがとうございます。打ち合わせの最初は、「頑張って標準語で行きます！」とプレゼンしてくださったのが、途中から九州地元の方言をたくさん使ってくださるようになりました。打ち合わせが活発になり、打ち解けた中で意見を出し合うことができるような時間が創れたからだと思います。良い成果を出す開発には、それを生み出す時間・場・そして人間関係が基礎ですね。暖かい方言のおかげで、打ち合わせの場がいっそう打ち解けたような気がします。「今度の打ち合わせには九州まで来て下さい」、とお誘いを受けました。「おチビ（娘）もつれてくりゃいいさ、従業員が面倒みるで！」と。子連れ出張、なんてアリなのかしら。私も対抗して静岡弁を使ってみようかな（笑）。

さて、年明けは寒さが厳しかったのが、ここ２－３日東京は寒さが和らいでいますね。日向にいると体がポカポカしてきます。通勤途中はダウンジャケットを着ていると暑くなってくるので、上着は脱いで、１枚で歩いています。途中にある樹木には、花の芽が膨らんできています。見つけると、おもわず顔が緩み、娘と一緒にお風呂で歌う「春が来た」を口すさんだりしています。

It is always good to visit Kobe, there is something about this city that is  fascinating me.  Unfortunately my visits have been always related to business/research so I didn’t have yet the chance to relax and explore it properly. However it is a very nice city, I like it, I have the feeling that Kobe as well as the people are more relaxed than in Tokyo.

This time I will join this event:

http://www.rescuesystem.org/IRSweb/event.html#e-schedule

One of our robots HELIOS Carrier will be on display together with many other machines that have been developed for Search and Rescue Operations during the past two years by different Japanese Research groups and Universities.

It has been already a good chance for me to see again friends (Japanese researchers and professors) that I have seen for long time. Actually by coincidence while walking downtown

It will be a good chance also for people, not related to university or research, to see the ultimate Japanese technology and solutions for Search and Rescue Operations.

We always work very hard to be able to make machines that can be useful and helpful for the men..and the events of these days with the terrible earthquake in Haiti are reminding us that we have to work hard to be able to deploy really practical and useful systems! I pray for all the victims and the people of that area…

BTW, happy new year to all of you! May the 2010 be full of serenity and gratification for all us!

ハイボットは本日が２００９年の仕事納めでした。ハイボットの１年を振り返ってみると、やはり、夏のトップ交代が一番大きな出来事でした。小さな創業６年目のベンチャーともなると、人一人の交代だけで全てのことに大きな影響がでます。でも、これを機に、新生ハイボットとしてさらに社会に貢献していけるような企業となるために、お客様やお取引先企業様とよりよい関係を築いていくために、パウロ・ミケレと頑張ってきました。私にとってもまだまだ試行錯誤の中迎えた年末。新年はどんなよい年にできるかしら。会社のことや株主様やお客様のことを考えると、正直ちょっと心臓がバクバクします。でもそんなストレスも、いい意味での緊張感に変えて、前進していくようにしたいと思います。

　さてハイボットの事務所近くの大田区蒲田の梅屋敷商店街。とても活気があって、都心ではあまり見かけなくなったお魚屋さん、お肉屋さん、八百屋さん、お惣菜屋さんなどが軒を連ねていて、「さーいらっしゃい！」と大きな声がずっと響きあっています。毎日ランチついでに夕食の買い物も済ませられる大好きな商店街です。今日は年末大安売りで、いつにもまして賑やかでした。忙しそうにお客さんと交渉中の八百屋さんや、道端にでてお客さんと楽しそうに話しこんでるおそば屋さんやらを見ているうちに、「そうだ！２０１０年はこれをしよう！」と決意。１年かけて、ハイボットの商品をご利用くださる、北は北海道から南は九州まで、海外の顧客の皆様にご挨拶にお伺いしたい！他の業務もこなしつつ、では、全てはとてもで回りきれないかも知れませんが、小さいことでもできることから始めて行きます。

　ハイボットの２０１０年、年明け第一弾は、北海道札幌市で開催されるロボット展。そこでヘビ型ロボット展示を１月５日から１７日まで行います。パウロがお正月に行って４日に設営してくれる予定。今日彼から、往路の飛行機は手配ができたよ、と連絡が。「でも、復路の便は予約しなかったよ。」・・・そう、パウロは無計画での散策好きなので、きっとその時の気分で北海道の山に消えるか、鉄道で帰るか、船で帰るか・・・。（へへへ・・・）というパウロの心の笑いが聞こえてくるようでした（笑）。私の年越しは、家族揃って実家に帰省、です。静岡はあたたかいので、雪もめったに降りません。実家の両親から孫まで３世代一緒に、のんびりお雑煮・お節をつついてきます。

　お客様、取引先の企業様、株主様には、この一年間大変お世話になりました。どうぞ、よいお年をお迎えください。来年もよろしくお願いいたします。　

Last week, Michele and I went to Hiroshima for the kick-off meeting of a new project. We went by airplane, and had booked transportation from the airport to the area of Hiroshima University and Science Center.

However, we were a little late and missed our ground transportation (called “Blue Line”). When we called the Blue Line to ask about their time table, we were told that they have no time table, and operate only with reservations. Besides, they need 1 day to prepare their vehicles, so we had to go by regular taxi. In the end, it was a good choice, because taxis are faster than this Blue Line, although more expensive.

The meeting was productive, and it was very nice to meet the people who will be working with us. I personally look forward to going back to the area to explore some ruins of castles that still remain.

On the way back to Hiroshima airport, we were impressed by the approach lights arranged on a long metallic truss, resembling a carrier. Hiroshima airport is equipped with ILS (Instrument Landing System) Category III, and I wonder if the metallic truss was also holding some of the navigation instruments.

So, if you fly to Hiroshima and need to take the Blue Line from the airport, make sure you don’t miss it – they require 1 full day to prepare their vehicles! (maybe they use steam-powered vehicles? Or perhaps horse-pulled wagons)

During last week robot tests, we were in a very remote mountain area. Suddenly while waiting to set the robot on the cables, I suddenly noticed a nice stain of moss.

I suddenly remembered of my youth…well when I was younger…when I used to make the Presepe in my hometown in Italy.

Presepe is a reconstruction of the Nativity of Jesus, in Italy as in other countries is a tradition and we use to make it before Xmas and will be on display in our houses until January 6th. I have been trying to keep the tradition in Tokyo too with my family and also this year we have made a small version of the Presepe. However I completely forgot about the moss that we used to place it to simulate green in the Presepe. I used to go out in my hometown country side during very cold afternoons wrapped by a thick fog, to look for moss.

This time I thought to pick it up and bring it back to Tokyo, but then I gave up as it was not easy to keep it in a good shape until Tokyo. However I managed to find some moss around my building although not as green as the one in the picture above.

This year we received from my family in Italy a couple of classic statues we have been using in Italy for the Presepe: a famous shepherd and the butcher that I used to say was my father as he runs a meat shop in Italy.

Thanks a lot mamma and papa’ and Buon Natale…Marry Xmas to all of you! Wishing that this xmas may warm up all your hearts!