- Title: JAPAN: Robot expo shows off new frontiers of robotic elderly care
- Date: 28th July 2010
- Summary: "ROBOTECH" EXPO ROBOT "CHAPIT" INTRODUCING ITSELF IN JAPANESE RAY TRON STAFF TALKING TO ROBOT "CHAPIT" ROBOT "CHAPIT" INTRODUCING ITSELF IN ENGLISH ROBOTIC BED "YURINA" BED BEING MOVED AROUND STAFF CONTROLLING BED BED ROTATING MORE OF BED ROTATING MAID ROBOT
- Embargoed: 12th August 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Japan
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Science / Technology,Lifestyle
- Reuters ID: LVA4GWOBKMRABV55L9LO4ORCONM
- Story Text: The latest and greatest robots were on display in Tokyo on Wednesday (July 28) as the "Robotech" expo showcased technologies that will help seniors stay independent even in old age.
A team of graduate students and researchers at the University of Electro-Communications presented a "partner robot" that is aimed to become a useful device in any domestic environment.
Equipped with a high-performance camera and guided by 6 computers, "DiGORO" is programmed to be of help to elderly people who may suffer from dementia as it can also recognize people's faces .
Research team leader, professor Takayuki Nagai said "DiGORO" is also capable of recognizing and grasping objects, and can quickly learn new instructions on the go.
"If you show the robot objects such as plates, cups it will remember them. You can then tell it the name of the object and it will learn it and you can just say the object's name and it will get it for you," Nagai said.
The award-winning robot was also created to support busy parents who have little time to play with their children, as it can use the internet to look up how to and then actually draw pictures of whatever it is asked to.
According to forecasts the elderly will make up around 40 percent of the population in Japan by the middle of the century.
Also on display was the "RAPUDA", or Robotic Arm for Persons with Upper-limb DisAbilities developed by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), which aims to allow people with disabilities the ability to retain their independence.
The arm was created to help the disabled in everyday life and is controlled through a remote control and can be easily hooked and unhooked to the wheelchair to be used not only on a wheelchair but anywhere where it is needed.
AIST researcher Woo-Keun Yoon said that being able to do even simple tasks is extremely helpful for maintaining one's mental condition.
"Up until now, it's been necessary to ask someone to help you when drinking and you had to continue relying on people for the rest of your life. If you use a robot in those situations, it might be slower, but you can drink your cup of tea at your own pace. Being able to do this is also good for one's mental well being." Yoon said.
The overall expo which includes "Robotech", saw over 12,000 visitors last year and had everything from robot beds to communication robots and even a robot wearing a maid costume this year.
Japan has one of the world's fastest ageing societies and experts say robots can help care for the growing number of elderly, and fill in for the lack of young people willing to take on jobs as cleaners and caretakers. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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