Japan’s National Policy Agency announced that it would lift a ban preventing SAE Level 4 autonomous vehicles from operating on Japanese roads.

Although industrial automation did not grow as much worldwide in 2019 as in 2018, it still set records, reported the International Federation of Robotics. The IFR also looked at regional growth.

Industrial and robotics R&D policies vary by nation, and the International Federation of Robotics has released a report compiling statistics from leaders including Japan, China, South Korea, Germany, and the U.S.

China is the most attractive market in the world for robotics suppliers, with a relatively low robot density, lots of manufacturing, and fewer regulations than in other countries. At the same time, there are plenty of things to discourage business, from worries about trade disputes and intellectual property to the recent Chinese slowdown. How should…