Japan Working on Robot Caregivers

Japan Working on Robot Caregivers

Author JoeDigital

With 40% of the population expected to be elderly, by 2055, Japan is working on a solution that is science fiction come to reality.  The idea is to develop robots that are able to help a live-alone elderly person with their daily routines, ranging from talking notepads and calendars to able to help move objects or even furniture around the home.  This is a tall order to fill, but results are happening.  Techniques are being developed to increase a robot’s ability to deal with unexpected events, which has often been a stumbling block for AI development.  And let’s not forget developments announced this week on ASIMO, one of the first, and perhaps still the most advanced, humanoid robots.  Developed by Honda, ASIMO has learned a new trick recently, and is able to distinguish multiple voices speaking at once.  Currently, this technology is being used for such monumental tasks as playing referee for a game of paper, scissors, rock, but this is only the first step in being able to distinguish the words of a particular guest in a crowded room.

For home care, robots are being tactically trained, in a literal sense.  In order to interact in an evnironment where touching humans in unavoidal, robots must be able to respond to sudden occurences without causing harm to their human companions.  Additionally, robots of this sort could remind a patient to take their medicine, perhaps even deliver it for use, act as a mobile awareness unit that monitors the current vital statistics, and many other redundant but necessary tasks.

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