

Japan, with the world's largest robot population, is now awakening to a crisis as its lead in robotics - one of its last areas of technological prominence - comes under threat from better-coordinated efforts in the United States and Germany, as well as Asian rivals South Korea and China.



As robots advance from the factory floor into homes, hospitals, shops and even war zones, officials hope to spur a new "robotics revolution" by rewriting rules that researchers say have stifled innovation.



Reporting by Sophie Knight and Kaori Kaneko, REUTERS.



