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Robear is a robot bear that can care for the elderly
It's 2024. An older Japanese gentleman wants to watch the International Space Station's closing ceremony, but he can't get out of bed. No problem! All he has to do is call Robear to help him get up. Yes, that's his caregiver's name, but you see, Robear isn't human: it's a bear-like robot. This machine is actually the third and latest iteration of the beary helpful caregiver robot being developed by Japanese research institute Riken. The first model announced in 2009 was called RIBA, followed by RIBA-II in 2011, though Riken also came out with a Pillsbury Doughboy-like model way back in 2006 called RI-MAN. Robear weighs 309 pounds, making it a lot lighter than its 507-pound predecessor. It also has new features that ensure it's gentler and more careful while carrying patients to/from their beds or wheelchairs than the older versions.
RIBA-II healthcare robot now stronger, smarter -- still a bear
RIKEN's original RIBA healthcare robot was already fairly adept at lifting patients while not completely terrifying them but, as is the case with such things, it's now been succeeded by a new and improved model. While its outward, bear-like appearance hasn't changed, the new bot boasts a series of upgrades that now lets it bend over and lift patients up directly off the floor, not just off a bed or wheelchair. It's also now able to lift patients that weight up to 176 pounds (41 pounds more than before), and it packs an array of new sensors that let it more accurately gauge a person's weight and carry them more comfortably -- not to mention some touchscreen controls on its back for when it needs a bit of direction. Hit the source link below for a video. [Thanks, robotbling]
Video: Human-carrying robot bear gets cuteness upgrade
The original RI-MAN may have had the whole human-carrying thing down while still managing to be somewhat soft and cuddly, but it looks like the robot-makers behind it have decided to go one step further with their new model, which has been given a complete bear makeover (sans teeth and claws, thankfully). Now dubbed RIBA (or "Robot for Interactive Body Assistance"), the new bot is still intended to more or less act as a robot nurse, and can reportedly lift patients up to 135 lbs out of bed or a wheelchair, while also making use of a full range of tactile sensors and some special "soft skin" material to ensure the short journey is as comfortable as possible. Did we mention there's a video? Of course there is. Head on past the break to check it out.[Via Pink Tentacle]
