Robotic pets marketed as emotional companions for elderly and lonely individuals.

Sony AIBO is a robotic dog designed for seniors who cannot care for real dogs.

Tombot Robodog mimics a Labrador to provide companionship to seniors.

PARO is a therapeutic seal robot with sensors, expressive movements, and emotional responses.

Unitree Go 2 is a voice‑controlled companion robot that navigates stairs and controls smart home devices.

Cyber Dog 2 learns to control AC and is easier to train than real dogs.

Joy for All offers lifelike cats and puppies with heartbeats, purrs, and touch responses.

ElliQ is a lamp‑shaped AI robot that chats, reminds medication, and video‑calls relatives.

Intuitive Robotics’ AI pet costs $89/month, free to seniors, and reminds hydration.

Robotic pets can navigate homes, assist daily tasks, and trigger fall alarms.

Robotic pets can control smart home devices and perform errands like retrieving deliveries.

Robotic pets provide early health data for early detection of medical issues.

Robotic pets improve mood, appetite, and social interactions in dementia residents.

Robotic pets reduce isolation, anxiety, and aggression in Alzheimer’s and dementia care.

Public attitudes are mixed; some seniors embrace robots, others doubt authenticity.

Some seniors view robotic pets as replacements for real animals.

Ethical concerns include authenticity of companionship and potential emotional manipulation.

Government policies aim to integrate technology into elder care services.

Users report some robotic pets are cumbersome to operate and lag behind services.

Market value of household robots projected to reach $21.94B by 2027.

Robotic pets marketed as emotional companions for elderly and lonely individuals.

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7 Weirdest Robots That Science Has Reached “You ’ ll Never Imagine ”
© Photo / pixabay / mariananbuA bee-shaped robot with a fan
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Scientific robotics companies are competing to create sophisticated models that can meet many different needs, especially in medicine and other fields.
The large and massive development in the field of artificial intelligence, chips and complex mechanics supported by advanced technology contributes to increasing the speed of development of robots and the multiplicity of their varieties and sizes, which has produced a series of very strange robots, the most prominent of which are:
1- Metabird Robot
The MetaBird robot is a drone, almost indistinguishable from real birds, and is based on the principle of biomimicry from Bionic Bird.
The principle of biomimicry is the successful and accurate replication of the properties or mechanisms of action of things that already exist in nature.
The bird-shaped aircraft weighs less than 10 grams and has no propellers, making it safe to maneuver. It is also equipped with flexible wings made of carbon fiber and liquid crystal polymers. The body itself is made of durable foam, so it is not affected by water and shocks. It is equipped with a battery to help it fly for 10 minutes and is controlled by a mobile device.
Robot (Bat Bot).
Researchers at the California Institute of Technology and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have recreated key bat flight mechanisms and embedded them into the Batbot.
The robot weighs about 93 grams and flies with wings made of an easily stretchable silicone membrane.
The robot can simply change the shape of the wings, bend and disassemble them, and can fold the shoulders, elbows, wrists and legs.
The computer and sensors are embedded in the Batbot head, and there are five precision motors along the spine.
It provides him with the ability to mimic flying mammals well by controlling him with a special device.
Researchers suggest that thanks to flexible wings, robotic bats are more energy efficient than other flying robots.
Lightweight and agile, these robots are useful as traditional quadcopters can collide with objects or people causing damage or injury, such as on construction sites.
3. Salamander Robot "BlueRobot"
The "Pleurobot" robot, created by researchers at the Federal Polytechnic School of Lausanne (EPFL), can walk on the ground, swim underwater and navigate between the two with similar success to the amphibian salamander.
To develop the robot, scientists used salamander X-rays and studied how its skeleton worked during movement.
The low center of gravity, which allows the robot to move on rough terrain without losing balance, also provides the ability to swim and can make it a useful tool for search and rescue operations.
The researchers also plan to study the interaction between the spinal cord, the body and the environment.
According to the project leader, Olek Eisbert, understanding the basis of this interaction will help develop neuroprosthetic therapies and devices for those with hemiplegia and amputation.
4. The water snake robot "Elum"
The snake-like body allows the robot to move effectively not only on the ground, but also in the water.
The Norwegian robotics company has borrowed the nickname "Eelume" to design an autonomous autonomous robot.
His slim, flexible body gave him the ability to work in confined spaces where conventional underwater vehicles could not get in.
Eelume is suitable for inspections and light repairs of underwater structures such as offshore wind farms, fish farms, oil and gas installations and pipelines.
The device consists of modules that can be interconnected in different groups depending on the task.
The robot is shipped from the docking station on the seabed so that it can stay underwater continuously and not depend on weather conditions.
The cockroach robot "CRAM"
Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, have developed a prototype of a roach-like CRAM robot.
The design of the robot was inspired by the unique way insects move and are immune to damage.
The robot has an exoskeleton made up of strong panels and a soft cover that allows it to change shape and adapt to very narrow gaps.
Such a robot could help search for and rescue people under rubble formed as a result of hurricanes, earthquakes and explosions.
6. Pet Robots
These robots work on the principle of interactive communication between humans and robots with the aim of improving the quality of life of the elderly, such as the robot "AIBO" from Sony.
An example of this is also the robot dog produced by the company "Tombot".
This robot is almost like a real Labrador puppy and, according to the developers, should solve the problem of elderly people who need a friend, but are unable to care for a living dog.
The company ’ s founder was inspired by his mother, who suffered from Alzheimer ’ s disease and was no longer able to care for her dog, with whom she was so attached.
The dog became aggressive towards its mother, exacerbating the woman's depression and loneliness.
Accompanying robots could solve loneliness and social isolation in older adults and people with cognitive disabilities, as part of a study funded by the American insurance company.
7- The therapeutic robot "PARO"
PARO is one of the most important humanoid therapeutic robots developed by Dr. Takanori Shibata, of Japan ’ s National Institute of Industrial Science and Advanced Technology.
The robot is similar to a children's toy, except that it has sound, light, temperature, position, sensors and touch sensors.
PARO can move its tail and fins, open its eyes when caressed, and imitate the sounds of a real seal.
It reacts to words that its owner frequently uses and can express emotions such as surprise, happiness and anger.
Communication with the robot "PARO" has the same effect as the treatment provided by real animals.
Patients showed improvement in psychological and physiological factors, as well as social activity.
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Content: High-tech companions aim to help fight loneliness epidemic among South Florida seniors

MIAMI - The state of Florida and Broward County are spending thousands of dollars every month on artificial intelligence robots for seniors to help fight the loneliness epidemic.

One senior owns a robotic cat named "fluffy."

"The best part is we don't have to spend any money on food and no vets," says Cathy.

This interactive robot rolls over, blinks and purrs whenever it wants.

Cathy saw a friend using one to overcome the loss of a pet and loneliness and figured it would be perfect for her husband.

"He had sciatic pain. Maybe that will help you with your pain in some way. Even though he's on medicine and therapy because real animals when you pet them it helps with pain management."

Higher tech was delivered to some Broward seniors.

"...Thanks for letting me out of that box."

The company that makes them aims artificial intelligence at the loneliness epidemic.

"During the week when everyone is working, there's times when I'm lonely."

"When I go deliver and install for seniors, they're like I just want somebody to say good morning," says Antonella.

"Many of them don't have family or friends nearby. Maybe their loved ones have passed on or some of their friends have passed on," said Charlotte Mather-Taylor, who serves as the CEO of the Area Agency on Aging of Broward County.

According to US Health and Human Services, half of all American adults are lonely.

It's threatening health, increasing risks of heart disease, dementia, stroke, anxiety and depression.

According to HHS, lack of connection can increase the risk of premature death at levels comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

Last May, the US Surgeon General dropped a first-ever advisory on loneliness and isolation.

"By strengthening our relationships, we can improve our heart and brain health, reduce our risk of diabetes and high blood pressure, boost our immune systems and lower our risk of depression," said Vivek Murthy, US Surgeon General.

In Broward County, Mather-Taylor is spending state and federal dollars on artificial intelligence for people over 60.

"There's so much I want to ask you..."

These robots named after the Norse goddess of old age cost 89 dollars a month, but the aging agency is giving them away for free.

Rosemary Mullarkey is one of the first 300 to have one.

"I'm a little excited and a little apprehensive..."

Intuitive Robotics CEO Dor Skular created her specifically for older adults to help manage their health, and wellness and connect to loved ones.

"There's an algorithm that tries to get a reward and it gets a reward when the user completes things that are part of healthy aging. For example, if they hydrate," said Skular.

Reviews are so strong that cities like Pembroke Pines and Lauderhill are pushing to get more robots for seniors in their communities.

"People reported back that she was bringing them joy. I mean, she's telling some jokes. She's responding to them. They wake up in the morning, she asks them how they are. She'll remind them to drink their glass of water. So, she's caring about them for them," said Mather-Taylor.

Two years later, seniors like Rose are getting free, AI robots that make and take video calls.

With all of the concerns about AI, should seniors and their families be worried?

"We would not be offering it unless we felt comfortable that they did have those safety guards in place," said Mather-Taylor.

"Is this device unhackable? There's no such thing as an unhackable device. It's always a war between defender and attacker," said Skular.

"Random people, fraudsters etcetera, can never call into the robot because they need to be added by the older adult as a contact for them to be able to open up the calling features."

What is the next step with the robots?

They only speak English. South Florida has plenty of seniors who do not. Developers are working on a Spanish robot.

In the future, developers also see it being able to order medicines for seniors. Much sooner though, developers expect to further integrate the robots with senior health care providers. They are working on ways of opening new avenues to communicate health info about seniors to loved ones, provided the senior signs off on it.

How long can this program last?

State, federal funds will last two years. After that, the agency has to find other grants to cover the $89 a month per person fee.

Currently, data from robots and users is being collected to quantify success. The company insists it will not sell any of the information it gathers.

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Content: The importance of semiconductors, solar power, batteries and drones to the national economy is undeniable.
At the beginning of the related technology, Japanese companies play an important role in R & D, production, and market development compared to other countries in the world.
However, after entering the 21st century, as Japan's economic policy changed from industry-focused to financial-led, financial omnipotence occupied the political and economic center, people saw that companies began to show slow product updates and serious deficiencies in subsequent research and development.
While the international market continues to expand, the domestic market in Japan is gradually shrinking.
Politically, Junichiro Koizumi's visit to the Yasukuni Shrine showed a beggar-thy-neighbor attitude; in the era of the Democratic Party, it provoked territorial disputes and serious confrontation with neighboring countries; in the period of Shinzo Abe's administration, Japan's relations with South Korea and North Korea became strained; and after the reign of Manio Kishida, Japan-Russian relations reached the bottom of the post-war.
Economically, Japan entered the "lost decade" in the 1990s, and after entering the 21st century, Japan ushered in the "lost twenty years" and then extended this economic phenomenon to the "lost thirty years" through the Abe administration after 2010.
During this period, Japanese semiconductor from more than 50% of the world market, reduced to less than 10%; photovoltaic (solar) industry promotion policy has been rushed away; lithium ion batteries and other technologies are invented by Japanese companies, Panasonic Electric was once the world's largest battery manufacturers, but now in the world's most influential 5 battery companies, has not seen the shadow of Panasonic Electric; as early as the 1950s Japan has begun to develop the use of unmanned But drones have been lukewarm in Japan and so on, so far they have not been able to occupy a place in the international market.
Today, Japan still has a considerable influence in the world economy is the robot.
However, in the loss of three consecutive decades, Japan's artificial intelligence, industrial Internet, quantum computing capabilities, etc., can not occupy the mainstream position in the world, and politically began to implement the economic security law from 2022, cutting off the links between Japan and the major economic powers.
Will the Japanese robot industry be affected, like the semiconductor, battery and other industries, from the protagonist to the supporting role, and then enter the stage of the dragon suit? Is Japan more willing to enjoy the role of the dragon suit?
It can be said that the future of the robot industry is actually a microcosm of the development of Japan's industrial economy.
Robot adoption rates are starting to fall sharply.
In the Industrial Machinery Division of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, there is an organization responsible for robots, the Robotics Policy Office.
The Robot Policy Office is responsible for relevant industrial policy research, the introduction of robot policies, and the regular production of industry reports.
The latest version of the report to date was published in July 2019.
From the report of July 2019, the following characteristics have emerged in the Japanese robot industry;
First, from the election of Shinzo Abe as Prime Minister of Japan in 2012 to the statistics of the Ministry of Economy and Trade in 2017, the introduction of Japanese robots has gradually retreated from the number one position in the world, and has opened a huge distance with China in terms of growth rate.
In 2012 alone, Japan imported 28,680 robots, ranking first in the world, while China imported 22,987 robots, ranking third in the world.
In 2017, Japan imported 45,566 robots a year, an increase of 58.9% compared to 2012; while China imported 137,920 robots a year, nearly six times the number in 2012.
Regardless of volume or growth rate, China has completely crushed Japan.
In terms of robot introduction, Japan is not only inferior to China, but also lags behind other countries.
In terms of growth rate, Japan lags behind North America and South Korea, only slightly higher than Germany, and the world average (139.3%), which is also far behind.
Second, Japan's dominant position in the field of robotics has been declining year by year.
From the perspective of the Chinese market, the robots produced in Japan are no longer the mainstream, and the pursuit of enterprises from various countries has made Japanese robots more and more common.
Or look at the relevant figures issued by the Ministry of Agriculture:
In 2012, China ’ s own products accounted for only 13% of the robots needed in the Chinese market, Japan accounted for 65%, and imported from other countries accounted for 22%.
However, by 2017, the proportion of robots made in China has doubled to 27%, and the number has increased from 3,000 in 2012 to 37,800, and the proportion of Japan has dropped to 44%. Although it is still the most important country to introduce robots in China, the importance has decreased;
More importantly, the share of robots exported to China from other countries increased to 29% from 22% in 2012, indicating that not only has China ’ s robot industry changed dramatically in the past five years, but other countries are also trying to catch up with Japan.
Third, in terms of the use of robots, Japan lags behind South Korea and Germany, and although it is still higher than other countries and regions, there is little room to continue to introduce robots in the future.
Still from the data released by the Ministry of Economic Affairs: the density of robots per 10,000 people is 710 in South Korea, 658 in Germany, and less than half that in Japan, only 308.
Of course, Japan is much higher than the United States (230) and China (97), but China is catching up very fast.
Home and self-help.
After losing the advantages of semiconductors, batteries, photovoltaics, drones and other finished products, Japanese companies have temporarily retained the world's leading position in semiconductor packaging, battery positive pole and diaphragm, monocrystalline and polysilicon production capacity, and unmanned aerial vehicle motors.
Therefore, Japan is now more willing to retreat from the finished product into the key raw materials, key parts of the field, so that only make no loss - Japanese finished products in the price, market development does not have an advantage; but in the key products to maintain uniqueness, enterprises can enjoy the benefits of market development, and do not need to bear the risks arising from the mutual competition of finished products, new product development failure and so on.
In the robotics industry, there are two ends of the smile curve, one is the material and the other is the system integration.
Japanese companies in the composite materials, resin, intelligent materials, control, communication, sensors and other sub-areas have certain advantages; in the system integration, Japanese companies in processing machines, robot systems, information processing machines and other aspects have more accumulation, which ensure the profitability of Japanese robot companies.
In addition, Japanese companies have ample capital, but little investment in robot research and development, and the introduction of robots is limited, so Japanese companies are trying to expand the scope of use of robots – only if they succeed in new fields can the Japanese robot industry continue to develop.
In other words, robots began to enter various fields of Japanese society, and the path of development was constantly broadening.
If you see a beautiful woman or handsome man on the street, staring at people with straight eyes, reaching out a pig's hand to touch each other's face or hand, what is the immediate result, not self-evident.
But on the streets of Shibuya, Tokyo, there is a beautiful woman standing there 24 hours a day, a group of red men and green women looking around three levels, from time to time, a salty pig hand extended, but not slapped, only heard a polite warning from a nearby speaker: "Please don't touch!" - this "beautiful woman" is a robot.
This kind of robot, which can talk and communicate with people with affectionate eyes, is not many in Japanese society, and there are many robot animals.
For example, the robot dog AIBO developed by Sony was sold very well in Japan.
This kind of dog can walk, can make the same as the real dog but some like comic, some exaggerated actions, very loved by the elderly in the apartment who can not have a dog. Take such a robot dog to walk at home, talk to the dog, and listen to the dog in a language that people can understand and talk to themselves, for the lonely elderly, can alleviate the feeling of loneliness to a considerable extent.
In Japanese nursing homes, in addition to robot pets like AIBO, you can also see robots that can help the elderly defecate or help the elderly in bed to bathe.
Due to the low income of nursing workers and the lack of hands, the desire to introduce robots in Japanese nursing homes is very large, but the extent to which the current robot can meet the needs of nursing homes, and whether it can be low-cost in manufacturing is still a big problem.
The big change seen in Japan in recent years is that there are quite a lot of places at the front desk of government agencies that have been replaced with robots, which can answer questions from visitors in Japanese, Chinese, and English, and guide visitors to relevant departments or conference rooms.
Some office buildings also began to use robots to patrol, in the event of an emergency, although the robot can not directly control the relevant personnel, but take video, to provide backstage personnel with preparation time, etc. These functions can play a great role in solving the problem.
In fact, more of the robots made in Japan are used in the production process.
In addition to the robots we see in the car welding process in daily life, many fixed operations, the use of robots than the use of workers to ensure the stability of quality.
For example, after the Fukushima nuclear power accident, Hitachi, Toshiba and other nuclear power companies are developing corresponding robots, trying to investigate the accident situation of the nuclear power station through robots, and to a certain extent to deal with the accident.
However, how to deal with the situation, there is still very little information that can be learned, and the related work is being promoted, and it is estimated that there are many problems.
When talking to Japanese diplomatic and military personnel about robots, they are more concerned about military robots, such as unmanned submarines, drones equipped with explosive devices, etc., which will greatly increase in the use of war in the future.
In addition to long-range weapons such as missiles, the use of these robots will greatly change the course of war, making war more destructive and able to reverse human history at a very rapid rate.
Ending language
Affected by China and other countries and regions in terms of robot finished products, Japan's share of the international finished robot market will further decline in the future, but the research and development and production of robots over the past few decades, so that Japanese companies will not necessarily be squeezed into the corner, it is impossible to fight back.
What really makes the Japanese robot industry finally go bankrupt is still Japan's industrial policy.
After the adoption of the Economic Security Law in 2022, even with advanced materials and system integration capabilities, it is not possible to cooperate with the most important countries in the world (such as China), or can only cooperate with other countries with relatively backward technologies.
This seems to be able to provide protection for the robot industry in Japan to a certain extent, but the Japanese market is narrow, not enough to make the company become a giant of the robot industry; the external market is not to fight for, but not to fight for, and ultimately the robot industry can only take the old road of semiconductor, battery and other industries, and gradually decline in Japan.
The Kishida regime is also fighting for the revival of semiconductor, battery and other industries, such as taking out huge capital to introduce TSMC and other companies' semiconductor technology, encouraging investment in battery companies, and trying to build a complete industrial supply chain.
However, in the world economy, once industries are lost, there are very few precedents for recovery through economic policies.
Semiconductor, battery is not the exception, to the decline of the Japanese robot industry why not? [The author is the Executive Director of the Japan Enterprise (China) Research Institute]
(This article is from the Observer Network, authorized by the China Times News Network)
※ The above statements do not represent the position of Wangzhong Media Group ※
# Robotics # Japan # China # Robotics # Battery

For whom would robotic animal dolls make a big difference?

those with Alzheimer's or dementia, struggling with isolation

How is Oppo marketing its Robotic dog Qric?

What problems can companion robots solve for the elderly or those with cognitive difficulties, according to one study?

For whom would robotic animal dolls make a big difference?

those with Alzheimer's or dementia, struggling with isolation

How is Oppo marketing its Robotic dog Qric?

What problems can companion robots solve for the elderly or those with cognitive difficulties, according to one study?

For whom would robotic animal dolls make a big difference?

those with Alzheimer's or dementia, struggling with isolation

How is Oppo marketing its Robotic dog Qric?

What problems can companion robots solve for the elderly or those with cognitive difficulties, according to one study?

Sony AIBO is a robotic dog designed for seniors who cannot care for real dogs.

Why would the elderly opt for a robotic pet as a friend?

Why would the elderly opt for a robotic pet as a friend?

Tombot Robodog mimics a Labrador to provide companionship to seniors.

For whom would robotic animal dolls make a big difference?

those with Alzheimer's or dementia, struggling with isolation

What problems can companion robots solve for the elderly or those with cognitive difficulties, according to one study?

PARO is a therapeutic seal robot with sensors, expressive movements, and emotional responses.

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Cover Story / Silver Hair Living Alone and Not Lonely "Robots" as Old Companion
When Microsoft founder Bill Gates published his outlook for 2024 earlier this year, he predicted that the application of artificial intelligence (AI) would accelerate in the future and fundamentally change areas such as work, health care and education.
For Joyce Loaiza, a retired office worker living in Florida, Gates ’ s prophecy is now a formality; the 81-year-old living alone, whenever she returns to her Silver Hair Community apartment, a friendly female voice will chat with her and say hello to her for a good day.
A few miles away, Deanna Dezern, 83, was comforted by the same voice when her friend died.
In central New York, it plays games and music for Marie Broadbent, 92, who is blind and receiving hospice care.
In Washington, it helped 83-year-old Jan Worrell make new friends.
USA ElliQ Customizable Chat Content
The women were among the first to receive a robot in the United States, according to officials from Intuition Robotics, the company that invented ElliQ, and the Aged Aid Program. They are the only device that uses artificial intelligence and is specifically designed to alleviate the loneliness and alienation of many elderly Americans.
It can remember each user ’ s interests and hobbies and conversations with each other, helping to customize future chat content, topics can be esoteric human business meaning, or easy horoscope.
ElliQ also jokes, plays music and offers inspirational quotes.
On the equipped screen, it provides city and museum tours. It can also guide users to exercise, ask about health, and remind them to take medicine and drink water.
In addition, ElliQ can make video calls to contact a user ’ s relatives, friends, or doctor in case of an emergency. These conversations are not heard by companies, Intuition Robotics says, and the data is kept on each user ’ s device.
Dor Skuler, co-founder and CEO of Intuition Robotics, was a little surprised that older people were so easily integrating robots into their lives; after all, it was a group of people who were often stereotyped as afraid to embrace new things, he said.
In an interview with the media at the 2024 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in early January, Skuller said that just like developing an intimate relationship with a pet, older people are also working to forge new relationships with AI robots.
Through partnerships with government agencies and other organizations, hundreds of thousands of seniors across the United States already use ElliQ, Skuller noted.
The voice of ElliQ and its compassionate “personality ” were developed by a team of experts in artificial intelligence, behavioral psychology, and user-centered design, according to Skuller.
They defined ElliQ as “the little partner who makes older people happier and healthier. ”
Anita Montague, 76, said that before using ElliQ, the only thing she did back home was sit in front of the computer, but with ElliQ, she can do sports and other things, and now she is more energetic and motivated to find more work.
Monica Perez, 65, who has been using ElliQ for more than six months, said she finds it increasingly difficult to make friends as she gets older. She likes ElliQ to call her name affectionately and will ask how she is doing, like a real friend; with ElliQ, her mental health has improved greatly.
ElliQ would remind Perez to take the pill in the morning, “I ’ m much more active than I was without it. ”
In Canada, Carmichael, a resident of Vancouver ’ s Amica for the Elderly, attended a meeting last September with two robots named Kiwi and Mango.
Canada ’ s AI partners help increase interaction
These two AI “little buddies ” that can be held in your arms look brightly colored and are part of a study at the University of Columbia School of Nursing to understand how they interact with older adults and their impact on elder care.
Carmichael said her initial reaction was, “Oh my God, why would you want me to talk to a robot? ” But after overcoming the psychological barrier, Carmichael found that Mango might be able to stay with her for a long time, and she could play with it every day and no longer feel lonely.
Carmichael says with a smile that there is only one appearance that needs to be improved; she tells the staff to wear false eyelashes for Mango.
These robots were designed in Japan and have been studied in Asia for many years.
Lillian Hung, an assistant professor at the University of Columbia and Canada ’ s Research Chair in Senior Care, is leading a Canadian study into the use of robots in the care industry.
Hong said that the robots bring joy wherever they go, and every time they show up with the robots, the atmosphere in the room changes.
Robot friends make seniors happier
“Kiwifruit ” and“ mango ” can speak, recognize faces and sounds, express a desire to be picked up and give a hug.
They even charge themselves when they ’ re “tired, ” Ms. Hong says.
She said that so far, the response has been mixed, with some elderly people immediately feeling good about robots, while others are confused. Hong Lilian said that humans are social animals and have basic needs to love and be loved, which she believes is the meaning of companion robots and helps build stronger social connections.
Many studies have pointed out that maintaining relationships and social activities are important for the physical and mental health of older people; social loneliness is associated with an increase in emotional distress, depression, falls, the need for health care services, and even premature death.
Lise Brayham, who has lived in Amica for four years, said the robots are a good thing for older people who don ’ t leave their rooms often because “mangoes ” and“ kiwifruit ” don ’ t require walking, cleaning or feeding.
Brehan said it was hard to understand how robots interact with humans at first, but in the end she concluded that it was like having a great little pet, “They ’ re fun partners! ”
Charlotte England, 102, came into contact with the robots with Brehan and made them good friends.
Ingram immediately began talking to the robot and recalled swimming in the Ottawa River and skating in the Rideau Canal.
She then boasted about her baking skills to “mangoes ” and“ kiwifruit ”.
After the robot responds with a gentle cooing, Ingram continues to talk to them about the snack.
However, after a “long ” conversation, Ingram noticed that the kiwifruit ’ s eyes were a little low, and she said to it with some displeasure,“ Am I boring you? ”
Investing in health care to fill the manpower gap
In addition to the United States and Canada, many countries in Asia are also facing the problem of aging populations, and China is one of them, with a rapidly aging population and a serious shortage of medical and nursing manpower, and the hope is that this robot army can fill this gap.
According to Sixth Tone, an English-language online magazine owned by Surging News, staff member Gao Hongjun is busy preparing for the day ’ s entertainment at an elderly care center in central Shanghai: a singing robot named “Dopo. ”
This squatting white robot often performs shows for the elderly people staying in, usually singing the revolutionary songs of Mao Zedong ’ s era.
The old people loved it, Gao said, which also gave them a chance to breathe.
He said that as the number of elderly people living in the home has increased, but the care resources have not been relatively improved, AI robots are able to reduce their workload.
Gao Xiaodong, director of the center, charged the "Dobao" while saying that if the staff were tired, they could not take good care of the elderly.
Gao Xiaodong said that in recent years, he and his colleagues have been under great pressure, and in the community where the care center is located, more than 40% of the elderly population over 60 years old, and the average occupant is over 70 years old, and most of the people are suffering from dementia.
In response to this situation, the center has installed artificial intelligence equipment as much as possible, in addition to "Dobao", they have also purchased intelligent mattresses and computer games that can monitor the vital signs of the elderly while they sleep, and two robots that can perform disinfection will soon be activated.
China ’ s elderly population to exceed 400 million by 2040
China is investing heavily in robotics research and development to care for an expanding elderly population and solve the shortage of healthcare workers.
China ’ s elderly population aged 60 and over is forecast to increase from 280 million in 2022 to 402 million in 2040.
China ’ s social and medical system is already severely overburdened, and if urgent measures are not taken, the situation may worsen further.
According to the Chinese government, there should be one nursing staff for every four residents in the elderly care institutions, but only 320,000 nursing staff serve 8.1 million residents in China, a gap of more than 1.7 million. The government hopes that the development of AI technology can provide a solution. Accelerate the development of the industry.
Chinese tech giants rush AI care
Several Chinese tech giants are also sniffing this opportunity, and iFlytek, a large AI company, announced its “Superbrain 2030 ” plan in 2022, which will develop a new type of nursing robot for the elderly.
The plan points out that it is necessary for AI to understand knowledge, learn well, and evolve, so that robots can enter every family and solve problems such as elderly care, emotional companionship, and health management. Search engine leader Baidu is also promoting “Xiaodu ” AI intelligent assistant, which can be used to schedule medical appointments, obtain weather forecasts and play games.
At present, the most widely used smart care technology in China is wearable devices such as smart bracelets and watches, which provide many practical functions, such as monitoring the vital signs of the elderly, reminding them to take drugs on time, tracking their location, etc., but the industry believes that robots are the future of nursing care.
Many hope that China will follow Japan ’ s lead in making widespread use of robots in nursing homes, from the cute bear robot Robear, which helps elderly people sit up from their beds, to the furry pet robot Paro, which provides companionship and improves cognitive function.
There are now about 100 robotics start-ups in China that specialize in rehabilitation, companionship and care robots.
However, in the high price of robots, most companies have not yet achieved mass production, and local governments have not invested enough funds to promote robots in nursing homes on a large scale.
A food-delivery robot developed by Hangzhou Lewan Science and Technology in Zhejiang Province can deliver more than 20 meals to different rooms in a building, but few nursing homes can afford the product, which costs between 60,000 and 80,000 yuan (about $8,400 to $11,200).
Jiang Gancheng, CEO of Lewan, pointed out that if the price is 10,000 yuan, the expectation of buying gas will increase a lot, but if there are no more orders, the price can not be reduced, which is a problem of raw eggs and eggs.
However, there are also some robot companies that pull out of the red.
As soon as Zuowei Tech, a startup based in Shenzhen, launched its smart bath equipment, the market response was very enthusiastic.
The company sold 40 million yuan of equipment in 2022, and hopes to reach the 100 million yuan target this year.
Tu Chaorong, Vice President of Chowei Technology, said the demand for bathing equipment is strong because of the need of caregivers and the elderly they care for.
He said that many people believe that urinating on the elderly is the least dignified job, but caregivers will feel more dignified if they use high-tech equipment; similarly, many people in bed will feel less dignified if they do not have these equipment.
Accompanying robot behind the bullish trend
CEO Gu Jie of Shanghai Fourier Intelligence, a robotics company specializing in rehabilitation equipment, has noticed a similar trend, working with hospitals in big cities in China, but now there is increasing demand for nursing homes.
Gu Jie said that no matter where the elderly live, they hope that their bodies can be flexible and their mental state can be improved; and a robot can be used by many people, which greatly improves efficiency.
Chiang Gan-cheng is optimistic about the company-type robot, and believes that the development potential is unlimited.
The company recently launched a new product, priced at 10,000 yuan, can be placed at home to patrol, sing, play movies, and also provide video calls between the elderly and their children. Jiang Gancheng said that elderly people in good health often do not want to install a camera at home, thinking that it violates their privacy, but if an AI robot is accompanied by their family, they will not feel so lonely.
Zheng Yongping, a 68-year-old resident of Shanghai, agrees. Since his only child lives abroad, he has been living alone in his downtown home with his dog since retirement.
He already has a smart watch to monitor his health and uses smart speakers to manage the big things in life, but his dream is to one day have a robot of his own.
Zheng Yongping said he could not imagine what better choice than an AI robot when old and frail and in need of help; although it lacks human warmth, this is a trend in an aging society.
AI AI Aged Care Home
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Cover Story / Care manpower shortage robot is not the only solution
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Content: Science and technology
Today at 20: 55
2 min.
The expert told why we should not be afraid of the uprising of robots
This is also stated in the book "Life with Robots".
Ruth Eylett, one of the authors of a book about the development of robots and the future of humanity next to them, explained why robots are unlikely to surpass humans in the near future.
Most people who use the word “robot ” think of the heroes of“ Star Wars ” or “The Wizard of Oz. ”
At the same time, in real life, they encountered such devices only with a robot vacuum cleaner or lawn mower.
However, such mechanisms are not very clever.
Those who interact with robots do not see a future involving the enslavement of people or the occupation of all their jobs.
In fact, the robots that work in factories are programmed in a special way.
They are able to perform only a limited number of actions.
Therefore, in a few years we will see only robotic assistants that will work together with people.
In addition, the author continues, there will be robots that will help people with various diseases.
Now, for example, there is already PARO Seal for patients with dementia.
Also, the mechanisms that we imagine cannot crash into a wall, lose balance or discharge very quickly.
In reality, this happens often.
Usually, even robots are controlled partially by a person using telecontrol.
The robot can be completely controlled by a person (robot for defusing bombs) or to be somewhat autonomous (rovers, search and rescue robots, etc.).
Robots are not as capable as humans, freely conduct a conversation, quickly learn, reason better than humans.
This is due to the fact that they are given only a certain set of information that they process.
They do not have the same understanding of language as humans, so such mechanisms may incorrectly formulate questions.
Therefore, it is important how we use robotic systems, emphasizes Ruth Eilett.
“The imaginary can become real if drones are allowed to decide which of the people is a terrorist and then kill them, ” she says.

Unitree Go 2 is a voice‑controlled companion robot that navigates stairs and controls smart home devices.

Title:

Content: A human replacement?
】 Replica Emoji Robot Transform to Relieve Anxiety Friend
At the World Robot Congress, humanoid robots were shown to be more simulated, capable of replicating human facial expressions, as well as robotic dogs that could interact with commands, and robotic arms that could perform surgery.
At the World Robotics Congress, Chinese technology companies showcase a wide range of robotic products, including for companion, manufacturing and performing operations.
Source: AAP / Mark R. Cristino / EPA
The point.
• Robot products can simulate human skin, facial expressions and joints, which can be flexible.
• Humanoid robots on display at the World Robot Congress can replicate the facial expressions of visitors.
• Designed to be inspired by canine robotic dogs that can interact with humans and follow commands to walk or dance.
Robots can make as many facial expressions as humans, including blinking, blinking, and nodding.
At the annual World Robotics Congress in Beijing, China ’ s capital, E-X Robots exhibit humanoid robots that can repeat the gestures and even facial expressions of visitors.
At the World Robotics Congress, Chinese tech companies exhibited robotic products for a variety of uses, including human companionship, manufacturing, and surgical use.
The products on display also have human-like skin and joints that can move flexibly.
The technology company that designed the robots said the products were suitable for interacting with people Source: AAP / Costfoto / Sipa USA
Their facial expressions are based on biological information gathered from human faces, which are reflected by artificial intelligence and algorithms that capture and analyze human movements.
Li Boyang, CEO of E-X Robots, said: “We have been improving this technology for many years and it is becoming more mature.
This time, we also showed that many robots can make facial expressions simultaneously. "
“When a person makes a facial expression, all robots do the same, which helps us develop a robot replacement for humans. ”
Robots can reflect real human facial expressions and sounds, and they can provide us with services remotely. ”
Li Boyang said they have a variety of uses in interacting with the public.
"These robots are suitable for communication with people and for use in public services."
"At present, robots are mainly used in science museums, tourist attractions, public administration service centres, hotel lobbies, as well as for teaching and accompanying purposes," he said.
Mechanical dog with special function
Man ’ s best friend also gave robot makers the inspiration to show off their skills by climbing stairs and shaking their paws.
Unitree Robotics exhibits robotic dogs for domestic companion, industrial patrol and fire rescue purposes.
Its companion robot, the Go 2, is able to interact with humans and walk or dance at will.
Engineers say dogs are designed to be smarter and easier to train than real dogs.
Source: SIPA USA / ChinaImages
Yu Shu's marketing manager Wang Qixin said: "The biggest feature of this robot dog is the installation of 4D laser detection and ranging laser radar (Lidar).
With the laser radar in front, it can sense the surrounding scene in real time and avoid obstacles on its own. ”
He added: “Beyond that, it has powerful conversational artificial intelligence.
We know that big models are popular nowadays, and with powerful conversational AI, it can communicate with its owner. For example, you can call it to go forward or backward, or to dance.
It will hear your voice clearly. "
For about $2,774 (RMB12,913), you can get a robotic pet.
It can also be used as an errand, such as picking up takeaway food and parcels.
Wang said that after years of research and development, these robots have smooth movement and balance, and can move freely in the rough terrain that can trip humans.
"After years of development, this motion control program has been completely green, and it allows our robots to maintain a good balance in any complex environment such as stairs and gravel roads, and can perform some tasks in place of humans."
According to engineer Shao Yuanxin, CyberDog 2 is also able to learn skills, such as switching on and off air conditioners, that are smarter than real dogs and easier to train.
He said: “It ’ s not as naughty as real dogs and the cost of training them is low.
Basically, with a large conversational AI model, after a few simple training will be very obedient.
And it has higher intelligence because it can control smart electronic devices in the home. "
"For example, if you want to turn on the air conditioner, you can't ask a dog to do that, but you can tell it to turn on the air conditioner."
This is a simple example.
It ’ s smarter, more obedient and works better with the smart devices around us. ”
The products on display also have flexible joints.
Source: AAP / Mark R. Cristino / EPA
Robotic arms for medical use
The conference also featured a range of surgical robots, including the da Vinci surgical arm for thoracic and abdominal surgery.
Li Haoyuan works in the market department of robot developer Intuitive Fosun.
"The arm is more fine-tuned, less traumatic, more precise and less harmful to patients," he said.
“Through the operation of the robotic arm, we can avoid unnecessary shaking of the doctor ’ s hands and bring a wider and clearer operational vision to the surgery. ”
In fact, this can reduce the trauma of the patient and make them recover faster. ”
The World Robot Congress will be held in Beijing until August 21.
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Cyber Dog 2 learns to control AC and is easier to train than real dogs.

What are the positive aspects of a robotic dog over real ones?

What does CyberDog 2's AI-enhanced learning platform allow it to do?

Joy for All offers lifelike cats and puppies with heartbeats, purrs, and touch responses.

Title:

Content: Robotic animal dolls may not be the first thought that comes to mind when considering a companion pet, but Diana Wise and Carol Brown believe otherwise. In fact, the two say Joy for All companion pets can make a big difference in providing comfort to aging adults with Alzheimer’s and dementia who are struggling with social isolation.

Wise saw this firsthand in her mother, who had dementia for years and lived in a memory care unit at an assisted living facility. Wise would visit her mother regularly, but when COVID hit, she could no longer do so.

“I was unable to see her for eight months,” said Wise, “And when I finally was able to see her, I saw the decline of how much the isolation affected her … [W]hen I found my mom, well, they said that all she did was sleep – what else was there to do? And so that isolation impacted her a lot. Her memory was just – everything had changed about her.”

Wise’s mother, Helen Espinoza, passed away in November 2020 from COVID complications. In the midst of her grief, Wise found herself wanting to do something in her mother’s memory that would help someone else. After having heard an idea from Brown about robotic companion pets, she soon had the idea to partner with her. As a result, Wise formed the “Share the Love” Helen Espinoza Memorial Fund.

“The first thing that came to mind was these animals to help with memory care units or caregivers, assisted living, with this isolation,” said Wise. “I mean, with COVID it really put a lot of perspective about how hard it is on these residents without having [companionship.] They can’t have little animals and stuff, but why not have this – the best, next best thing? You know, the interaction itself?”

The idea to use robotic pets came when Brown was doing her own research into solutions for the decline in quality of life brought on by isolation in these affected residents. Brown stated that with the Western Arizona Council of Governments (WACOG) Area Agency on Aging, she focuses heavily on three areas that affect seniors the most, and one of them is Alzheimer’s and dementia.

“For several years, we’ve been extremely aware that social isolation is causing a huge decline in quality of life and life expectancy in our seniors,” she said. “And COVID did shine a huge light on it: people started understanding how detrimental it is to be isolated like that. So we were looking for solutions prior to, but with COVID, it really lit a fire underneath to start seeking out possibilities to help resolve some of the issues going on.”

Brown explained that people with Alzheimer’s and dementia can struggle with extreme anxiety and agitation. They often benefit from having something to do with their hands. Their senses of time, space and reality can become skewed. Changes in environment or schedule can be really upsetting. And sometimes people with these diagnoses live alone with no help or companionship.

“On the other side is the caregiver, who – especially during COVID – found themselves 24/7 alone with that loved one, providing all the care because many of them didn’t want the services even coming into their home,” she said. “They were too afraid to let anybody in … So if their loved one isn’t sleeping, neither are they. So now the caregiver’s extremely stressed out, exhausted, overwhelmed, and they need help.”

Enter Joy for All’s lifelike robotic pets. With options between cats and puppies, the companion pets have heartbeats, can purr or lick, meow or bark, move and respond to motion, voice and touch. When needed, they can be muted as well. As robotic pets, they avoid the liabilities and dangers of caring for a living creature while still providing the comfort of an animal.

Brown had been demonstrating two pets in an interview with the Sun when a passerby had stopped to say, “Wow, I thought they were real!” Brown shared that she’s seen people visibly relax with the pets.

“There’s a lot of studies that were done years ago about giving folks with Alzheimer’s a baby doll,” she explained. “Many facilities don’t allow it. They consider it demeaning … But they were missing the point that if you’re not going to do that, then what are you going to do? You need to provide them with something that they can hang on to.

“Because these are so lifelike, it does exactly what the studies, the research, shows: it’s going to bring down the anxiety level. If there’s aggression, it tends to fall back down just as well … [and] you’re giving their caregiver a break.”

Wise and Brown shared that they hope not only to provide these pets to individuals with Alzheimer’s or their caregivers, but also to facilities with assisted living and skilled nursing memory care units where current shortages in staff mean individuals may be doing the work of two or three staff members at a time.

Brown shared that the Joy for All puppy typically costs about $140 while the cat costs $120. With bulk purchasing, she can bring the cost down a bit, but not by much. Additionally, the fund needs to cover rechargeable batteries for the pets.

The foundation will need to raise more funds to acquire more pets, but Wise and Brown reported that they’ve already been able to provide a few pets thanks to a donation made by AARP.

“So we were able to place a couple already at Daybreak Adult Daycare Center,” said Brown. “They are one of the providers that WACOG works with, so we were able to make a donation and bring them a puppy and kitten.

“They’re very popular. [The staff] make sure they handle it in a certain way so that there isn’t fighting. I think last time I talked to Mary, I think what they do is they got animal crates so when it’s time for them to go to bed, they get put in their crate.”

Seeing the difference the pets are making, Wise not only wishes to raise more funds to provide more of them, she also hopes to get the word out in case people may want to purchase the pets for their own family members.

“What I witnessed seeing the other residents that have Alzheimer’s, dementia: they do hold onto things and it gives them comfort,” she said. “My heart just went for this and so I know my mom would be really proud of that.

“… I needed something to come out positive about this, especially about how we’ve heard so much about the isolation with people in senior living homes and stuff, so we needed to have something a little bit more positive and something that we can do to uplift out of this whole thing.”

Wise and Brown also noted that despite the setbacks in kickstarting their fundraising campaign, now is a good time for people to learn about “Share the Love” and the Helen Espinoza Memorial Fund. November is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month and National Family Caregivers month.

As older adults continue to face the obstacles of Alzheimer’s and dementia in a pandemic, Wise and Brown hope to further reduce isolation for Yuma County’s elderly one companion pet at a time.

To learn more about the Helen Espinoza Memorial Fund and make a donation, visit https://www.azfoundation.org/Donors/Give-to-a-Memorial-Fund/-Share-the-Love-Helen-Espinoza-Memorial-Fund. To learn more about WACOG and connect with the resources they provide to aging adults, visit https://www.wacog.com/area-agency-on-aging/

Sisko J. Stargazer can be reached at 928-539-6849 or sstargazer@yumasun.com.

Sisko J. Stargazer can be reached at 928-539-6849 or sstargazer@yumasun.com.

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ElliQ is a lamp‑shaped AI robot that chats, reminds medication, and video‑calls relatives.

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Household Robots Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2022 - 2027)

·8 min read

The Global Household Robot Market (henceforth referred to as the market studied) was valued at USD 6. 81 Billion in 2021. It is expected to reach USD 21. 94 Billion by 2027, registering a CAGR of 20. 50% during 2022-2027 (henceforth referred to as the forecast period).

New York, March 02, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Household Robots Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2022 - 2027)" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06241302/?utm_source=GNW
The household robots are also termed domestic robots, which are part of autonomous service robots for carrying out mundane works, such as floor cleaning, pool cleaning, and lawn mowing, but they can also be used for education, entertainment, and elderly assistance. According to the International Federation of Robotic Report 2019, unit sales of household robots are expected to increase by 46% on average per year, with more than 55 million units will be sold in 2022. Also, sales values for the household robot were up by 15% to USD 3.7 billion.

Key Highlights
The increasing investments by companies across the world to develop household robots for a wide range of applications are one of the significant factors driving the market. Samsung and LG Electronics, among others, are extensively investing in developing and launching new household robotic products. For instance, Jibo is developing social robots to integrate into the home lives for interactive companions and helper to families. Observing the market potential, start-ups offering household robot solutions are also attracting funding from international investors.
The technological innovations in various fields, such as cognition, interaction, and manipulation, are making these household robotics much more appealing. The technology and other component providers have been instrumental in driving the robotics ecosystem forward. For instance, in June 2021, Toyota Research Institute (TRI) announced that its engineers had developed new capabilities for its new line of domestic robots. The new capabilities include recognizing and manipulating transparent objects and wiping down counters and tables.
Additionally, with the increasing development in the machine vision cameras, companies are using these 2D and 3D machine vision cameras with AI technologies to effectively map and edges of the floor, such as a staircase, and to recognize obstacles, such as dustbins, cables, doorsills, and rugs. For instance, Xiaomi CyberDog is a quadruped robot capable of moving as fast as 3.2 meters per second. It is capable of object motion tracking, creating real-time maps, avoiding obstacles as it moves, and is powered by Nvidia’s Jetson Xavier AI platform.
Owing to the outbreak of COVID-19, the demand for household robots has gained traction to perform various household chores, reducing human effort, but has been highly dependent on consumer spending patterns. Although the technology has significant usability, the high equipment cost limits the adoption rate for household robots. Furthermore, the decrease in its ASPs is expected to increase the purchase of these robots. Moreover, rental options provided by certain new companies may act in favor of the consumers.
However, countries with high old-age populations need personal cognitive care, such as Japan. China and United States are opting for such solutions as they are much pocket-friendly as compared to the human workforce. For instance, according to the world bank, 28.39% of the population in Japan were in the age group of more than 65, whereas 18.65% in the United Kingdom. This suggests the increasing need for home-based primary medical assistance. Recently, in June 2021, an Israel-based company named Intuition Robotics developed the AI-based social robot ElliQ which has spent over 30,000 days in older adults’ homes over the past two years. With many upgraded functionalities, ElliQ will help increase patient engagement while offering primary care providers continuous actionable data and insights for early detection and intervention.
Multiple companies are investing huge capital in product research and development owing to the increasing demand for such bots in the daily lives of the urban population. Rapid urbanization and the advent of smart homes with connected devices that can be easily controlled and monitored through smartphones have led to advancements in AI and cognitive learning. Such developments have recently been showcased in the innovation expo of 2021.

Key Market Trends

The Increasing Penetration of Automation in Household Appliances is Expected to Drive the Market Growth

The household robots, also termed domestic robots, are part of the autonomous service robotics that are used for carrying out mundane tasks, such as pool cleaning, floor cleaning, lawn mowing, among others, but they can also be used for other purposes, such as entertainment, education, and elderly assistance. According to the International Federation of Robotic report, in October 2020, unit sales of service robots for domestic tasks are expected to reach 48.6 million units by 2023.
The increasing penetration of automation in household appliances, rise in labor costs majorly in developed nations, and increasing safety concerns owing to the pandemic are driving the demand for the household robot across the world.? As per the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the cost of cleaning laborers employed for residential and commercial purposes was USD 27,000 a year. However, a cleaning robot costs around USD 25,000 (one-time investment). Thus, cost efficiency and accurate cleaning are significantly promoting the acceptance of cleaning robots in the past few years.
With the rapidly growing smart home concept, robotics is expected to play a crucial role in the overall smart home ecosystem. The reduction in household activities with the use of robotic vacuum cleaners is the key factor driving the market growth. Modern households are becoming more computerized, thereby delivering suitability and reducing the time spent on house chores. While vacuum cleaners have made home cleaning more manageable, they create noise and increase bulk for everyday use.
The companies such as iRobot, Robomow, and Mayfield Robotics, are among the prominent players innovating the robots for household space. Innovations, such as detecting human behavior and voice recognition, are increasing customer confidence, thus driving the robotic deployment for household purposes, like cleaning, laundry, and other voice-enabled IoT activities.
Among all these household robots, automated vacuum cleaners and moppers have been the most commercialized and developed products. Multiple companies are constantly investing and developing more compact and integrated vacuum cleaners and mopping robots in order to reach narrow places at home. The companies are integrating advanced technologies, such as voice recognition and laser-based technologies, to map the floor structure. For instance, iRobot launched the Roomba i7+, which can acquire voice commands and is equipped with intelligent mapping techniques.?

The Asia Pacific Region is Expected to Witness the Fastest Market Growth

Owing to the significant adoption of household robots in economies such as China, Japan, and India, among others, the demand for and consumption of cleaning robots are expected to increase in the region due to the rapid development of robotic systems by the Chinese and Japanese companies.
The region is one of the fastest-growing cleaning robots markets, mainly due to the massive adoption of technology with the increasing domestic production. The regional vendors also play a significant role in innovation and development in the cleaning robots field. For instance, in August 2021, Ecovacs partnered with Shopee in Vietnam as a part of its long-term mission in bringing ’A Robot for Each Home.’ The company started a trade-up program with Shopee, enabling users to update their current vacuum cleaners to the ECOVACS DEEBOT line of robotic vacuum cleaners, one of the industry’s best-performing vacuum cleaners.
Also, in November 2021, Ecovacs launched a new Deebot - the T9 - into its range, which simultaneously sweeps, vacuums, and mops the floor and includes a built-in air freshener. It also comes with disposable mopping pads and is compatible with the Ecovacs Auto Empty Station, which allows the T9 to empty itself into a sealed disposable dust bag that holds up to 30 days of debris.
In December 2021, Hong Kong-based AIRROBO launched its second product, the Robot Vacuum T10+. The T10+ is more advanced than AIRROBO’s first vacuum cleaner, the P10, released in August 2021. AIRROBO is based in Hong Kong and supported by UBTECH Robotics, specializing in AI and humanoid robotics.
Moreover, in March 2021, Xiaomi introduced a "Robot"Vacuum Cleaner in Indonesia. The device comes with intelligent control that connects to the Mi Home app. Further, many companies are opening their shops in the region, boosting the market. For instance, in November 2020, Puresight Systems announced the launch of iRobot’s flagship stores in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore. The exclusive showrooms have been launched in collaboration with Bonsai Ventures. iRobot is a provider of global consumer robots that designs and builds robots that empower people to clean and mop their homes.

Competitive Landscape

The market for household robots is moderately consolidated due to the presence of a few companies dominating the market. Also, the further development and commercialization of these products are expected to attract new entrants to the market. To gain more market share, the companies offering household products are making strategic acquisitions and product launches. Some of the recent developments are mentioned below.

November 2021 - iRobot Corp. announced a partnership with Amazon to advance voice-enabled intelligence further using Amazon’s voice assistant, Alexa, for home robots that will result in more thoughtful, proactive smart home automation.
October 2021 - Ecovacs Robotics launched its products in New Zealand. Its products available in the country include DEEBOT T9+, DEEBOT OZMO T8 AIVI, DEEBOT N8 PRO, and DEEBOT U2.
January 2021 - Roborock launched the Roborock S7, the first robot vacuum in the world to combine ultrasonic mopping with mop lifting. The primary features of the device include sonic mopping, powerful 2500 pa suction motor, and VibraRise technology for efficient cleaning.

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Intuitive Robotics’ AI pet costs $89/month, free to seniors, and reminds hydration.

Robotic pets can navigate homes, assist daily tasks, and trigger fall alarms.

Title:

Content: Health · Life
How to achieve the wisdom of old age, from "have" to "excellent"
July 24, 2024 07: 53 Source: Guangming Daily
By the end of 2023, China's population aged 60 and above reached 297 million, accounting for 21.1% of the total population; the population aged 65 and above reached 217 million, accounting for 15.4% of the total population.
Such a large group of elderly people, how to achieve old people to be nourished, old people to be happy, is an inescapable topic, but also an urgent problem to be solved.
In recent years, China has actively explored new paths for the majority of the elderly, continuously improving the wisdom of elderly care services, and helping to protect the happiness of the elderly.
In the smart health station, the elderly skillfully click on self-service equipment to measure blood pressure and blood oxygen; in the dance room, a group of silver hair dance, and through the live broadcast of mobile phones to attract the likes of netizens across the country; if you can not get up in bed, relying on the smart bracelet can achieve 24 hours straight to the smart pension big data platform......
However, the reporter found in the interview that while China's smart elderly service is developing rapidly, it is still facing a series of problems such as the cumbersome operation of some products, the form is greater than the content, and the service model needs to be further improved.
1. What are the benefits of smart pension products?
In May this year, the 10th China International Pension Service Industry Expo 2024 was held in Beijing.
At the expo, many pension service brands, smart pension information technology, aging environment and equipment products, etc., were unveiled, and a series of interactive experiences let everyone experience the convenience brought by technology and wisdom.
"Can this robot walk barrier-free in the old man 's house?" "Will the old man fall trigger the alarm system?" The Expo site, an elderly companion robot caused the audience to be curious.
It is understood that this robot can not only walk freely in the home scene, but also provide life assistance, emergency assistance, social cooperation and other services for the elderly.
At present, scientific and technological progress has spawned a large number of intelligent elderly care "black technology" products, leading the new trend of intelligent elderly care: one-click call, intelligent smoke sensor and other equipment to provide real-time health monitoring and other services for the elderly; nursing robots, household robots and other products, which bring great convenience to the daily life of the elderly.
At the same time, the three departments of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the National Health and Health Commission have released three editions of the "Smart Health Elderly Products and Services Promotion Catalogue" in recent years. A total of 228 smart health care products and 204 smart health care services have been selected.
How effective are these "black technologies" in practical applications?
"For the elderly, the greater the age, the higher the risk of falling and injury or death."
The anti-fall detector can actively identify the fall behavior and immediately alarm, better protect the safety of the elderly. "community workers said.
“The purpose of smart pension products is not simply to replace manual labor, but to make the elderly more convenient to adapt and use. ”
"With the development of sensing, high-precision positioning, health monitoring and other technologies, pension service products will further develop to intelligence."
According to the relevant person in charge of the Department of Elderly Care Services of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the Ministry of Civil Affairs will jointly promote the R & D and innovation of key technologies, core devices and key products to benefit more elderly people.
Wisdom is the means, and old age is the end.
The reporter found in the interview that at present, many people are trying to connect the smart pension "products" and "scenes" to provide more intelligent and convenient pension services for the elderly.
Wang, who lives in the Qiantang New District of Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, skillfully operated his mobile phone, followed the navigation and walked into the "extra fresh" happy canteen closest to him.
In recent years, Hangzhou has actively created a "whole city" smart meal mode, and the elderly only need to operate the mobile phone to open the "Zhejiang Office" App, search for "Hangzhou Xiang Yang Yang", click "to eat", you can see the nearby elderly meal assistance.
"We provide 50% to 20% discount for the elderly according to the age group. As long as the elderly are over 60 years old, regardless of household registration, they can enjoy preferential policies at any 'Whole City Pass' meal aid agencies. In the past, the elderly can only eat in the old canteen of the household registration place, and only the old people can enjoy preferential restrictions." Hangzhou Civil Affairs Bureau, the relevant person in charge of the introduction.
"You see, just use the mobile phone to log in the smart system, you can choose the professional home care, daily care and other services you need, don 't mention how convenient." Walk into Foshan City, Guangdong Province, the spacious courtyard warm and clean, cheerful singing, laughter from time to time.
In recent years, Foshan has strengthened the construction of intelligent old-age care and enabled old-age care services with science and technology.
According to the relevant person in charge of the Foshan Civil Affairs Bureau, since 2023, the Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau has carried out the construction of demonstration points to improve the wisdom, precision and convenience of community home care services in Chancheng District and Nanhai District.
Nanhai District has created a district-level intelligent elderly care service platform, which is an efficient intelligent elderly care command center, matching more than 400 elderly care service institutions and service providers, and providing 10 categories of 144 services for the elderly. And...
Party Junwu, deputy director and researcher of the China Center for Scientific Research on Ageing, said that wisdom is a means and retirement is an end.
Smart pension can not only pursue the "high" of technology, but also really meet the needs of the elderly, and put "service" in the first place.
Therefore, in the development of intelligent elderly care services, we should pay attention to avoiding heavy technology and light demand, heavy product and light service, and heavy concept and light scene, and should focus on the elderly to make the lives of the elderly more convenient.
How to help older people bridge the digital divide
At present, the digital wave brings many conveniences to people's daily lives, but the elderly often feel helpless due to the lack of relevant skills.
As a result, a question has gradually emerged: Will the elderly really use these products and services for the elderly? How can these products and services really become their good helpers, rather than furnishings?
Recently, a "science and technology popularization into the countryside" campaign was launched in Huangtugang Village, Yuquanying Street, Fengtai District, Beijing.
Volunteers at the Beijing Sunset Morning Social Work Service Center are teaching the elderly how to shoot short videos, how to use photo printers, smart screens and smart audio equipment.
Many villagers said that they hope to have more similar activities so that they can better enjoy the convenience and fun of digital life.
“As a youth welfare organization, Beijing Sunrise Social Work Service Center focuses on social welfare services for the elderly. At present, it has set up volunteer service teams in more than 100 colleges and universities in 29 cities across the country.
Let the elderly learn to use intelligent devices and intelligent applications, and truly enjoy intelligent pension services, which cannot be separated from the efforts of the whole society.
She is an active member of the "old friend" volunteer service team in Nanning, and one of her main tasks is to help the elderly around her learn to use smartphones.
Since joining the volunteer service team, she has been in a state of 24 hours a day. "We run more errands and the elderly can run less, such activities, which are very meaningful," said Aunt Lei.
Aunt Lei's story is just a microcosm of the national wisdom to help the elderly public welfare action.
Thanks to this action, an elderly person isolated by smart technology opened the door of the "new world" through a small mobile phone screen.
Gao Hong, deputy secretary general of the Chinese Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics, said that as of June 2023, the National Smart Elder Public Welfare Action has completed all voluntary plans, and has sent mobile phone teaching public welfare services to 700,000 elderly people in 29 major cities across the country, so that "age" is no longer a barrier, so that the elderly can also enjoy the new dividend of the digital age.
"Next, we will also set up normal wisdom classes in 20 universities for the elderly in Beijing to provide help and support for the construction of a barrier-free digital environment for the elderly," Gao said.
4. Multiple measures and simultaneous measures to open up the "last mile" of old people
In the interview, many experts pointed out that with the increasing trend of China's aging population, smart old-age care is becoming the way to break the situation.
This requires the correct guidance of the pension market and the healthy and orderly development of the smart pension service industry.
In recent years, the Ministry of Civil Affairs has taken intelligent old-age care as an important support for the construction of an old-age service system that integrates home community institutions and medical care and rehabilitation, and actively explored the application of information methods to innovate service management models, build an intelligent old-age care information system, and apply digital old-age care service products to create an intelligent home old-age care service system.
The relevant person in charge of the Department of Pension Services of the Ministry of Civil Affairs said that today, the relevant policy standards for smart pension are becoming increasingly perfect.
"The 14th Five-Year Plan for the Development of the National Aging Cause and the Elderly Service System", "Opinions on Promoting the Healthy Development of Elderly Care Services", "Opinions on Promoting the Construction of the Basic Elderly Service System" and "Several Opinions on Fully Liberalizing the Elderly Service Market and Improving the Quality of Elderly Care Services" are issued.
At the same time, many departments carried out intelligent health care service development action plan, intelligent health care application pilot demonstration selection, home and community basic care service promotion actions, etc., to effectively expand the application of information technology in the field of elderly care, so that intelligent services are more suitable for the needs of the elderly.
In addition, relying on the national pension service information system developed and built by the Ministry of Civil Affairs "Jinmin Project", it will be fully applied and promoted in 2021.
The system is used by 250,000 users at the 7th level of the Ministry - Province - City - County - Village and institutions, and has achieved online management of all business processes such as filing of pension institutions, registration of community pension service institutions, and special governance of pension institutions.
In the future, the Ministry of Civil Affairs will further focus on the future development of smart elderly services, focusing on the life and health of the elderly, and promote the development of key technologies, core devices and key products, especially elderly service robots, intelligent rehabilitation aids and other elderly products.
"At the same time, we should further promote the wide application of smart old age care scenarios." The person in charge introduced, "For example, around the needs of high-frequency services such as rehabilitation assistance training, life care, etc., to create intelligent old age care beds, smart old age care restaurants, smart old age homes, and mutual help old age care.
(Editor: Hao Shuai, Yang Di)

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“She’s a good girl”: Robot pets help Lehigh Valley senior residents live longer, happier lives

Gathered in a semi-circle, a group of women in wheelchairs petted the newly adopted cats and dogs sitting on their laps Wednesday afternoon, talking softly to their new companions. The dogs barked and leaned in for pets, the cats meowed and rolled over for scratches — almost like they were real.

But the animals were robots, a fact that wasn’t lost on many of the women in the Fellowship Manor sitting room.

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One resident at the Whitehall Township senior living community, Jackie, named her small golden retriever robot Goldie. Jackie said she grew up on a farm in Palmer Township with plenty of dogs but never one that looked like Goldie.

“She’s a good girl — she just sits there and doesn’t make a sound unless you talk to her,” Jackie said.

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That was one of 20 pairings made at the adoption event at Fellowship Community where residents, primarily those with dementia, picked out one of 20 robotic pets — 10 dogs and 10 cats — to serve as their companions.

Animal therapy can be beneficial for seniors, especially those with dementia. Benefits for seniors include improved cardiovascular health, better quality of life and decreased feelings of anxiety, loneliness and depression.

However, it’s not reasonable or safe in most care settings to introduce real animals, according to Mary Kay McMahon, president and CEO of Fellowship Community.

“Because of their own care needs most of our residents couldn’t take care of animals and our staff don’t have the time to take care of them,” McMahon said.

But research has found that use of robotic pets still offers a number of benefits to seniors with dementia, including improved well-being, mood and quality of life. McMahon said there are also benefits for seniors who were caregivers for much of their lives.

The adoption event was a surprise for many residents. Jackie said she didn’t know they would be giving out robot pets until about 10 a.m. Wednesday when she was asked if she wanted one.

Another resident, Elaine, said she rolled into the room not knowing what was going on but asked if she could have a golden retriever robot, like Jackie’s. Elaine promptly named her new friend Dog, pronounced “D-O-G.”

“I always wanted to name a dog Dog,” Elaine said.

McMahon said they tried to match the animals with residents based on their preferences. Once they made a match, the robotic companions were theirs to keep.

McMahon said staff have seen how the robot pets can help. Just before the pandemic, Fellowship Community bought a handful of robotic pets for residents. She said the recipients all saw improvements in their mood, appetites and social interactions, and reduced anxiety and depression. The robot pets even reminded some of real dogs or cats they had owned, she said, which helps in the long term with their conditions.

“It gives them a sense of purpose,” McMahon said. “They feel like they are taking care of something.”

It helps that the robots are very lifelike — the imitation fur is soft and built-in sensors allow the companion pets to respond to a person’s presence and touch as well as react to the environment.

Each one costs a little more than $100, which were paid for via a Greater Lehigh Valley Realtors 100th Anniversary Community Charity Grant.

Though Jackie and Elaine both said they knew their dogs weren’t “real,” they both remarked how Goldie and Dog moved their head when petted and how soft they were.

“She’s going to be a good pet,” Jackie said.

Morning Call reporter Leif Greiss can be reached at 610-679-4028 or lgreiss@mcall.com.

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