http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/05/19/disruptions-helper-robots-are-steered-tentatively-to-elder-care/Already popular in Japan, today’s New York Times reports on the developing trend of robotic companions for the elderly.
A typical Japanese example is the Tsukuba University created Hybrid Assistive Limb. The battery-powered suit senses and amplifies the wearer’s muscle action when carrying or lifting heavy objects. Caregivers can also use the suit to aid them while lifting patients from a bed, and patients can wear it to support their movements. Other Japanese devices include a small, battery-powered trolley to aid independent walking; a portable, self-cleaning bedside toilet; and a monitoring robot which tracks and reports the location of dementia patients.
The Times describes several interesting US developed robots: Cody, a Georgia Tech created robotic nurse cable of bathing patients; HERB, a Carnegie Mellon developed butler which retrieves objects and cleans; Hector, a University of Reading robot which provides medication reminders, locates lost objects, and can assist in a fall; and Paro, a baby seal looking robot which calms dementia patients.
Leave a Reply