Toshiba social robot to accompany older people in healthcare

Shaped like a woman, the robot prototype that Toshiba presented at Ceatec 2014 is designed to assist seniors in health and social care applications. In the current phase he moves his arms and hands, paraps and communicates by signs, but the objective is to provide it with human expressions and voice recognition techniques.

Toshiba has presented a prototype of a social robot with a feminine appearance intended for healthcare with older people. He is able to move his arms and hands, use Japanese sign language, and shows a kind expression, accentuated by the expression in his eyes and his smile.

Currently, this android can imitate only simple movements, like exchanging greetings, but Toshiba is working to integrate its extensive technologies in areas such as sensing, speech synthesis and recognition and robotic control. It is equipped with 43 motors that allow you to move your head and upper limbs, motion sensors and different facial recognition technologies, learning gestures and expressions.

This Toshiba development is designed to serve as company and support for elderly people and those who suffer from dementia or some degree of hearing impairment., with applications in both the home and healthcare environments.

Toshiba is working on this android in collaboration with the company Alab, Osaka University and the Shibaura and Shonan Institutes of Technology. These last two have contributed by providing the technologies that allow their movement, while Alab and Osaka University have provided the solutions needed to give the robot a feminine appearance and emulate human expressions.

Toshiba's social robot is being exhibited at the fair Ceatec 2014 which is being celebrated in Japan until 11 October. The company also plans to test it in applications as a receptionist or exhibition assistant and hopes to have it ready for commercialization in 2020.

 

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izH08FB2mxU[/youtube]