Artificially intelligent robotic pets are increasingly promoted as emotional companions for older or lonely people.

In New York, more than 31,500 robotic pets have been distributed to elderly adults since 2018, with 70% of recipients reporting reduced loneliness and a 75% decrease in pain.

Programs continue to expand, with an additional 4,725 pets slated for delivery to New Yorkers.

These devices mimic animal-like sounds and movements to provide comfort and engagement.

Joy for All companion pets have a heartbeat and respond to motion, voice, and touch, and they can be muted when needed.

They can purr or lick, meow or bark, and are used in assisted living and skilled nursing memory care units.

PARO, a therapeutic seal robot, uses sound, light, temperature, and touch sensors to react to owners and can express emotions like surprise and happiness.

PARO has shown therapeutic effects similar to real animals and can improve psychological and physiological factors.

Sony’s AIBO recognizes faces, remembers owner preferences, develops unique characteristics through interaction, and is supported by a three-year AI Cloud Plan; the Espresso Edition costs $2,900.

Xiaomi’s CyberDog uses NVIDIA Jetson Xavier, Intel RealSense D450 depth sensing, and over 10 sensors for navigation, moves up to 3.2 m/s, and is priced at 9,999 yuan (about $1,540).

CyberDog 2 adds 19 sensors for vision, touch, and hearing, a high‑performance NX chip capable of 21 trillion operations per second, self‑learning, and costs about $3,000.

The Dynamic 1 robot dog can climb stairs and respond to voice commands.

ElliQ, an AI companion used with older adults, provides medication reminders, health check-ins, virtual travel and entertainment, and video calls, with users interacting about 20 times daily and reporting up to 80% reductions in loneliness.

ElliQ deployments include programs where 800 elderly received companions, with service pricing of $30–$40 per month and a $250 registration fee.

Evidence from care settings shows multiple clinical and social benefits for seniors.

Robotic pets can reduce anxiety and agitation in people with Alzheimer’s and dementia and provide comfort to aging adults.

Caregivers report stress relief and respite when robotic pets are used with individuals with Alzheimer’s.

Studies report improvements in cardiovascular health, decreases in anxiety and depression, better mood and quality of life, and enhanced social interactions in seniors.

Recipients also describe a sense of purpose, and former caregivers may benefit emotionally from the companionship.

Intergenerational games and activities with robotic pets can promote social connection among older adults.

Robotic companions have also reduced agitation and medication use among veterans with dementia and provided comfort to children ages 3–10.

Researchers are working to translate key elements of human–animal bonds into robot behavior.

Scientists identified seven factors related to animal companionship and suggest robots may yield health benefits similar to real animal friendships, without the responsibilities of pet care.

Interactive robots like AIBO and therapeutic robots like PARO are used to reduce isolation and foster social activity in older adults.

Adoption spans multiple countries and care models.

Robots accompany elderly residents in Japan, Denmark, and Italy, and New York State has distributed companions to hundreds of older residents.

Robot dogs like AIBO are popular in Japanese nursing homes to alleviate loneliness.

Costs vary widely, creating options for different budgets.

Many lifelike companion pets for home or hospice use cost about $100–$150, often supported by donations.

Joy for All pets generally cost $120–$140, with bulk purchasing lowering prices slightly, and they require rechargeable batteries.

At the higher end, Sony’s AIBO costs $2,900 in the U.S. with cloud services included.

Advanced quadrupeds range from roughly $1,540 for CyberDog to $3,000 for CyberDog 2, and other robodogs like Unitree Go2 are about $1,600. [23][24].

ElliQ operates on a subscription model of $30–$40 per month plus a $250 registration fee.

Public attitudes and ethics are actively debated.

Public perception is generally positive about using robotic pets as companions for the elderly, and demand is especially visible in Japanese nursing homes.

At the same time, scholars and ethicists question what it means to replace real animals—or human relationships—with AI companions. [7].

While robots can offer companionship and support, they operate through algorithms and programmed responses and do not have subjective experiences like humans.

Some research warns that intensive reliance on AI companions can exacerbate social isolation, foster emotional dependence, and hinder development of real‑world social skills. [31].

Experts emphasize balancing the use of robotic companions with human connections and recognizing that these devices may not fully replace human interaction. [7].

In sum, robotic pet companions are showing measurable benefits in reducing loneliness, easing anxiety, improving mood, and supporting caregivers, especially in dementia care and senior living. [1][3].

Today’s market offers choices from simple, touch‑responsive pets to sophisticated AI companions with face recognition, self‑learning, and telehealth‑adjacent features. [5][8][24].

Their expanding use raises important ethical questions about empathy, authenticity, and the potential to substitute for human and animal relationships, underscoring the need for thoughtful, person‑centered deployment. [7][16].

Artificially intelligent robotic pets are increasingly promoted as emotional companions for older or lonely people.

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How AI Companions Are Redefining Human Relationships In The Digital Age

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In an era where technology is increasingly intertwined with every aspect of our lives, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has begun to fill roles that were traditionally reserved for humans, including those of friends, confidants, and even romantic partners. This burgeoning relationship between humans and AI raises profound questions about the nature of companionship, the human need for connection, and the potential consequences of substituting human interaction with digital entities.

The Emergence of AI Companions

The concept of AI companionship is not new, but its realization in practical applications is a relatively recent development. These AI companions are designed to provide emotional support, companionship, and in some cases, even mimic romantic or intimate human relationships. Replika is one of the most well-known examples. It is an AI chatbot designed to provide emotional support. Users interact with Replika through text conversations, and the AI learns over time to provide more personalized responses, simulating a genuine emotional connection.

Another example is Gatebox. They have taken the concept a step further by creating a holographic AI companion. Aimed at people who live alone, Gatebox’s AI avatar can send messages throughout the day, welcome users home, and even control smart home appliances, creating a sense of presence and companionship.

Next, there is Harmony by RealDoll. A more controversial use, Harmony combines AI with a lifelike humanoid robot to offer a romantic and physical companion. Harmony can hold conversations, remember user preferences, and express various personality traits.

The Psychology Behind AI Relationships

Why are people turning to AI for companionship? The reasons are as varied as the individuals themselves, but several key factors contribute to this phenomenon. First, we are experiencing a rapidly growing loneliness epidemic. In a world where social isolation and loneliness are increasingly recognized as major health risks, AI companions offer a semblance of connection for those who feel disconnected from human relationships. This is particularly poignant in countries like Japan, where societal changes have led to a rise in solitary lifestyles. Second, AI relationships provide a level of convenience and control that is not always possible in human interactions. These digital companions are available 24x7, don’t have their own emotional baggage, and can be switched off at the user’s convenience. Third, advances in AI technology have enabled these digital entities to appear more human-like in their interactions. From remembering past conversations to displaying empathy, AI companions can simulate many aspects of human interaction, making them more appealing as social partners.

The Impact on Human Relationships

The rise of AI companionship is not without its implications for society and how we perceive human relationships. For some, AI companions can serve as a bridge to better emotional health. These AI systems provide a non-judgmental space for people to express themselves, which can be particularly valuable for those with social anxiety or other mental health challenges. Moreover, AI companions serve as a stepping stone, helping individuals develop social skills and confidence that can be transferred to human relationships. However, there are concerns about the long-term impact of relying on AI for companionship. One major concern is that these relationships could lead to further social isolation, as individuals might prefer the uncomplicated nature of AI companions over the more challenging dynamics of human relationships. This could potentially exacerbate the loneliness epidemic rather than alleviate it. Then, there are also ethical considerations surrounding the development and use of AI in such intimate roles. The attachment to AI entities that don't possess genuine emotions or consciousness raises questions about the nature of empathy, affection, and what it means to be human.

Implications for Traditional Dating and Marriage

As AI companions become more prevalent and sophisticated, their impact on traditional dating and marriage is inevitable. There is a very real possibility that AI may supplement or even replace human relationships. For some people, AI companions are the outlet for support and companionship that are traditionally forged through human interaction. Moreover, we are already seeing a trend in which younger generations leverage Ai as a practice ground for social interactions, potentially enriching users' capacity to engage in human relationships. However, there is a possibility that some individuals might prefer AI companions to traditional human partners. The predictability, lack of judgment, and customizable nature of AI entities can make them more appealing, especially for those who have had negative experiences with human relationships. As a result, there is a changing perception of what companionship means. Thus, the rise of AI companions challenges our traditional notions of companionship, love, and emotional connection. It raises questions about what it means to love and be loved, and whether these concepts are exclusively human.

Navigating a New Era of Companionship

As AI companions become more prevalent in society, it's crucial to navigate this new era responsibly. That’s why it's important to find a balance between utilizing AI for emotional support and maintaining human connections. Encouraging and facilitating human social interactions alongside the use of AI companions can help mitigate the risk of social isolation. Developers of AI companions have a responsibility to consider the ethical implications of their creations. This includes being transparent about the limitations of AI companionship and avoiding designs that could exploit vulnerable individuals. Moreover, ongoing research is needed to understand the long-term effects of human-AI relationships fully. This research should inform policies and guidelines for the development and use of AI companions. Moreover, open dialogue about the benefits and risks of these relationships is essential to navigating the ethical landscape.

The advent of AI as a substitute for human relationships, including love and friendship, marks a significant shift in our social landscape. While AI companions can offer support and connection to those in need, they also bring with them a host of ethical, psychological, and social implications. As we venture further into this uncharted territory, a cautious and thoughtful approach is vital. The future of human-AI relationships will depend on our ability to balance technological advancements with a deep understanding of human needs and values. In this new era of companionship, we must tread carefully, ensuring that our pursuit of innovation does not lead us away from the essence of what makes us inherently human: our capacity for genuine connection and empathy.

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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?

In New York, more than 31,500 robotic pets have been distributed to elderly adults since 2018, with 70% of recipients reporting reduced loneliness and a 75% decrease in pain.

Title:

Content: SHARE

Cure For Loneliness? Robotic Pets Going Out To Thousands Of Socially Isolated NYers

Call it four-legged companionship without the need for potty training.

Thousands of animatronic pets are on their way to older, socially isolated New Yorkers in an effort to combat what experts describe as a crisis of loneliness.

The state’s Office for the Aging (OFA) announced Sunday, June 3, that Rhode Island-based Ageless Innovation is delivering another 4,725 robotic pets and games to elderly adults through New York State’s aging network.

Since 2018, OFA has distributed more than 31,500 of the plush, lifelike pets, which are designed to make realistic sounds and movements, to those assessed as socially isolated and lonely.

A pilot study conducted in 2018 found that 70 percent of recipients reported a reduction or significant reduction in loneliness, plus a 75 percent decrease in pain.

The state’s intergenerational game project, Joy for All, includes Scrabble Bingo, Trivial Pursuit Generations, and Game of Life Generations. Through a partnership with Hasbro launched in 2023, the games have been tailored to an older crowd by featuring larger fonts and intergenerational gameplay and storylines.

“We’ve initiated multiple innovative solutions, bolstered by technology, to connect people, provide companionship, and significantly reduce isolation and its consequences,” said OFA Director Greg Olsen. “Proudly, I can say data shows our efforts are working and exceeding expectations. “

Studies have shown that social isolation and loneliness put older adults at an increased risk of a number of health issues, including high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, a weakened immune system, depression, cognitive decline, and even death, according to the National Council on Aging.

Learn more about New York’s Animatronic Pet Initiative, including eligibility, on the Office for the Aging website

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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?

Programs continue to expand, with an additional 4,725 pets slated for delivery to New Yorkers.

These devices mimic animal-like sounds and movements to provide comfort and engagement.

Scottish researchers believe what will provide benefits to owners of robotic dogs without accompanying responsibilities?

What can Dynamic 1, a robotic dog by Tecno, do?

many features to enhance owner interaction

Joy for All companion pets have a heartbeat and respond to motion, voice, and touch, and they can be muted when needed.

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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They can purr or lick, meow or bark, and are used in assisted living and skilled nursing memory care units.

Scottish researchers believe what will provide benefits to owners of robotic dogs without accompanying responsibilities?

PARO, a therapeutic seal robot, uses sound, light, temperature, and touch sensors to react to owners and can express emotions like surprise and happiness.

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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.
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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.
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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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PARO has shown therapeutic effects similar to real animals and can improve psychological and physiological factors.

For whom would robotic animal dolls make a big difference?

those with Alzheimer's or dementia, struggling with isolation

Sony’s AIBO recognizes faces, remembers owner preferences, develops unique characteristics through interaction, and is supported by a three-year AI Cloud Plan; the Espresso Edition costs $2,900.

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A new series of robotic pets with individual AI training is now available to American users
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Sony has unveiled an updated line of robotic dogs known as the Aibo Espresso Edition.
These cute tech quadrupeds are available for purchase directly through the company ’ s official platform.
After their successful introduction to the Japanese market last year, it is now the turn of the United States to meet advanced iron friends.
advertising
Presented in four colors, each Aibo comes complete with a three-year AI Cloud Plan, a special charging station, and a playful pink ball for entertainment.
Thanks to the AI Cloud Plan, Aibo is able to develop its unique characteristics and behaviors by learning through interaction with the host.
This technology allows the dog to recognize faces and remember the preferences of its owner, making communication with him more personal and unique.
The depth of the user ’ s interaction with Aibo determines how his personality traits will be formed, making each instance unique.
With the subscription, owners will also have the opportunity to update their Aibo software, teach it new commands and behavioral models.
At the end of the three-year free period of use, owners will be offered to switch to paid access to cloud services.
For full control and communication with Aibo outside the home, Sony offers the My aibo app, which opens up opportunities for virtual interaction, including feeding, playing, and teaching a robotic friend new tricks.
Residents of the United States can already become owners of their own Aibo Espresso Edition by visiting the Sony website and placing an order for $2,900.
Source: habr.com
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The AI Cloud plan allows robotic dog Aibo to do what?

make interactions increasingly personal and unique

Xiaomi’s CyberDog uses NVIDIA Jetson Xavier, Intel RealSense D450 depth sensing, and over 10 sensors for navigation, moves up to 3.2 m/s, and is priced at 9,999 yuan (about $1,540).

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Xiaomi has released its version of the robot dog
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The company Xiaomi held a special presentation, which introduced a new type of device in its product portfolio.
The quadruped CyberDog robot uses the NVIDIA Jetson Xavier platform, and also uses Intel RealSense D450 sensors to determine the distance to objects.
The company independently developed all the necessary servo drives.
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CyberDog 2 adds 19 sensors for vision, touch, and hearing, a high‑performance NX chip capable of 21 trillion operations per second, self‑learning, and costs about $3,000.

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The price of such a pet is $3,000.
At Mobile World Congress 2024 (MWC), Xiaomi showcased its latest innovation in robotics, CyberDog 2.
This four-legged robot has a perception and decision-making system based on 19 sensors of vision, touch and hearing.
Designed to mimic the movements, appearance and interaction of a real dog, CyberDog 2 is an example of Xiaomi ’ s ambition to push the boundaries of robotics.
CyberDog 2 ’ s bionic appearance, inspired by the Doberman Pinscher, combined with optimized body proportions animates its bionics, making it visually impressive and functional.
The only thing missing is wool, a wet nose and a tongue that would lick the owner when he comes home.
With a weight of approximately 8.9kg, the CyberDog 2 is 40 percent lighter than its predecessor, but at the same time has impressive performance.
The AI-enhanced learning platform CyberDog 2 provides self-learning, allowing you to constantly acquire new skills and perform complex and precise movements.
Through repeated modeling and training of more than 30,000 dogs simulated by artificial intelligence, each movement becomes natural and realistic.
This platform ensures that CyberDog 2 will evolve and adapt, reflecting the behavior of a real dog.
With a high-performance NX chip capable of performing 21 trillion operations per second, CyberDog 2 AI ’ s multimodal decision-making system makes it easy to navigate complex environments.
The robot can quickly recognize both the environment and the commands of the person.
In addition, four sets of microphones and the Xiaomi AI voice algorithm contribute to smooth communication with users.
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What does CyberDog 2's AI-enhanced learning platform allow it to do?

The Dynamic 1 robot dog can climb stairs and respond to voice commands.

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Tecno's AI-Powered Robot Dog Is Inspired by the German Shepherd

Who let the robo-dogs out? Whether as a pet substitute or a high-tech tool, mechanical canines are capturing our imagination.

Sareena Dayaram Senior Editor
Sareena is a senior editor for CNET covering the mobile beat including device reviews. She is a seasoned multimedia journalist with more than a decade's worth of experience producing stories for television and digital publications across Asia's financial capitals including Singapore, Hong Kong, and Mumbai. Prior to CNET, Sareena worked at CNN as a news writer and Reuters as a producer.
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Robot dogs have barked up a storm in recent years, and tech companies are all for it. Chinese firm Tecno showed off its first robotic dog on Monday at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Tecno's sleek Dynamic 1 joins the wave of high-tech canines we've seen on the tech scene in recent years.

The AI-powered Dynamic 1 can climb up a flight of stairs, bow and shake hands. It can respond to voice commands as it's equipped with four microphones and an AI-based voice recognition algorithm, according to the company. The Dynamic 1 can also respond to a smartphone app or remote, thanks to Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity.

The Dynamic 1 has a headlight system, which illuminates its path and acts as an indicator for interacting with people, according to Tecno. It's powered by an ARM CPU, which enables dynamic stability, rapid post-fall recovery and speeds of up to 3.7 meters per second (roughly 8.3 mph), according to Tecno. It's also packed with a range of cameras and sensors that enable it to navigate obstacles.

Its 15,000-mAh battery allows for up to 90 minutes of use, according to Tecno. It doesn't have a USB-C port for recharging, but instead "allows for quick battery exchanges and simultaneous charging."

Read More: Who's A Goodboi? This Light-Up Robot Puppy Sure Is Cute

Tecno says the Dynamic 1's design was inspired by the German Shephard. Although it doesn't look quite as friendly as a real pooch, it's supposed to offer a glimpse into a dystopian future, as envisioned by Tecno. A future where people would presumably live with robotic dogs, which are marketed as requiring less upkeep than a real canine, but still come with companionship benefits.

Robot dogs haven't quite made their way into our homes (and hearts) yet, but that hasn't stoped makers from spending millions to develop high-tech canines. In 2021, Chinese phone-maker Xiaomi debuted its inaugural Cyberdog, complete with USB-C recharging. It's since followed that up with the CyberDog 2.

It's unclear whether the Dynamic 1 will be up for sale. One thing is clear, though: Tecno is bolstering its AI and advanced robotics credentials on the international stage that Mobile World Congress offers.

What can Dynamic 1, a robotic dog by Tecno, do?

many features to enhance owner interaction

ElliQ, an AI companion used with older adults, provides medication reminders, health check-ins, virtual travel and entertainment, and video calls, with users interacting about 20 times daily and reporting up to 80% reductions in loneliness.

Title:

Content: Want to age-in-place? You may have a robot keeping you company.

Artificial intelligence can help reduce loneliness for older adults aging at home.

A 95-year-old woman and her 74-year-old daughter, each who live alone and could be at risk for isolation and loneliness, recently received a lifeline to conversation and companionship in the form of an artificial intelligence robot.

The women can now receive medical reminders, health and wellness check-ins, play music and games, and experience virtual travel.

“It’s helping with loneliness and socialization for people who would be otherwise trapped in their home watching TV all day,” Christopher Lewoc, case manager for Greene County Human Services in New York said. “It’s a way to keep people sane and active mentally and physically. It’s letting people live a more social life.”

Lewoc sets up free artificial intelligence care companions for older adults, giving them a lifeline to conversation and health reminders.

He recently installed ElliQ, voice-activated proactive and empathetic care companion, in the homes of the elderly mother and her daughter, giving them some companionship as they each live alone. He’s found that a little conversation may go a long way to helping to mitigate isolation and improve care for older adults.

Under a contract with the New York state Office for the Aging, Intuition Robotics is providing the ElliQ smart technology for about 800 older adults in an effort to battle social isolation and support aging-in-place. The ElliQ recipients need internet access for the free device to be set up in their home by a caseworker. The state works with local offices for the aging and partners to identify older adults who would most benefit from the technology

“ElliQ will greet them in the morning and ask them how they feel. If they slept poorly, ElliQ will say ‘would you like me to call your doctor?’ It’s interactive and helpful,” Lewoc said.

“It allows them to have a companion, engage in conversation and get reminders about drinking their water or whatever medications they need,” said Lewoc. “A lot of folks don’t have smartphones and ElliQ can show them photos, take them on trips to different countries and teach them about the culture. It can play trivia with you, call your family, play music to have a dance party.”

ElliQ responds to questions but also initiates conversation and questions, offers sleep relaxation exercises, physical activity exercises, nutrition-related chats and medication reminders for each user’s unique condition.

“This product does so many things to improve health, combat isolation, and improve overall well-being and independence. Designed with input from older adults, the future of supporting and serving older adults includes technology. The future is here,” said Greg Olsen, director for the New York state Office for the Aging.

“Despite misconceptions and generalizations, older adults embrace new technology, especially when they see it is designed by older adults to meet their needs,” Olsen said, adding that ElliQ served as a “powerful complement to traditional forms of social interaction and support from professional or family caregivers.”

The New York program and rising interest in AI companions comes as more older people want to age in place and finding home healthcare amid a persistent shortage of healthcare workers becomes increasingly difficult.

In 2017, the U.S. Surgeon General declared social isolation to be a “global epidemic” – one that only worsened in the COVID-19 health emergency. According to the AARP Public Policy Institute, social isolation drives $6.7 billion in additional associated Medicare spending per year.

Read: Opinion: What robots will mean for your retirement

Amid a report by the McKinsey Health Institute on healthy aging that found that nonclinical factors affect 80% of an individual’s health, Intuition Robotics sees great potential for ElliQ helping older adults age in place in a healthier way.

Users have an average of 20 daily interactions with ElliQ, according to Dor Skuler, CEO and co-founder of Intuition Robotics, a startup company based in Israel. ElliQ users report an 80% decrease in loneliness and 82% of users access the mental health features, Skuler said.

The new second-generation ElliQ offers users experiences such as museum exhibit tours and virtual travel. The new companion app provides users’ families and caregivers with different methods to communicate with the users and updates them on the user’s well-being.

Read: Opinion: This $3,000 dog could be a perfect gift for Grandma

Skuler called ElliQ a “lighthearted character that moves into the person’s home.” While Intuition Robotics has not marketed directly to consumers, it was named a Time Best Invention of the Year and word-of-mouth during the holidays has been good for business.

Outside of the New York state program, ElliQ can be had for a $249.99 enrollment fee, plus a monthly subscription of $29.99 if you buy a year subscription or $39.99 if you enroll month-to-month.

Intuition Robotics is talking with other states and senior living facilities about offering ElliQ in more places, as well working to measure how the conversational robot improves health outcomes to reduce the cost of care, Skuler said.

Of course, it’s a robot and not a human, so the interaction is limited.

“There’s a place for technology, but it’s no substitute for human interaction. We know the power of human touch and human interaction,” said Lakelyn Hogan Eichenberger, a gerontologist and caregiver advocate for Home Instead Senior Care, a home care service agency. “Industrywide, the workforce is not at the level it needs to be at, so there’s a need for technology, but there has to be a balance.”

Do you have questions about retirement, Social Security, where to live or how to afford it at all? Write to HelpMeRetire@marketwatch.com and we may use your question in a future story.

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

ElliQ deployments include programs where 800 elderly received companions, with service pricing of $30–$40 per month and a $250 registration fee.

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800 Elderly Receive Robot Companion Interaction to Relieve Loneliness
New York state officials will distribute robots to hundreds of elderly residents to remind them to take medication, help contact relatives, book a taxi, Uber, and even joke around.
The Office for the Aging in New York State (NYSOFA) will send these robots to the homes of 800 elderly people to solve the growing problem of loneliness among the elderly.
Greg Olsen, director of NYSOFA, said the robots are ElliQ, made by Israeli tech firm Intuition Robotics, and are reportedly more proactive than Apple ’ s Siri and Amazon ’ s Alexa.
Olson says ElliQ is proactive, remembers interactions with owners and focuses on health and wellness, stress reduction, sleep, hydration, and more.
ElliQ consists of two parts.
One part is like a face, shaped like a light, equipped with a microphone and speaker that lights up and rotates to interact with people, and the other part is a touch tablet that can make video calls and display pictures and messages.
The ElliQ robot is subscribed for $30 to $40 per month and initially has to pay a registration fee of $250.
Vox, a news review website, said robots had been used to accompany elderly people long before the outbreak, especially in aging countries such as Japan, Denmark and Italy, and state governments in New York, Alabama, Pennsylvania, Florida and other jurisdictions have tried similar programs, such as providing robotic pets to residents of nursing homes and retirement communities.
Just a month before the global outbreak, the National Academies reported that one in three adults over the age of 45 in the United States felt lonely, and the proportion of young people was unexpectedly high.
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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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Robotic pets can reduce anxiety and agitation in people with Alzheimer’s and dementia and provide comfort to aging adults.

For whom would robotic animal dolls make a big difference?

those with Alzheimer's or dementia, struggling with isolation

Caregivers report stress relief and respite when robotic pets are used with individuals with Alzheimer’s.

For whom would robotic animal dolls make a big difference?

those with Alzheimer's or dementia, struggling with isolation

Studies report improvements in cardiovascular health, decreases in anxiety and depression, better mood and quality of life, and enhanced social interactions in seniors.

Recipients also describe a sense of purpose, and former caregivers may benefit emotionally from the companionship.

How is Oppo marketing its Robotic dog Qric?

What can Dynamic 1, a robotic dog by Tecno, do?

many features to enhance owner interaction

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

What should a guide dog's role include in addition to guiding a person?

Intergenerational games and activities with robotic pets can promote social connection among older adults.

For whom would robotic animal dolls make a big difference?

those with Alzheimer's or dementia, struggling with isolation

What can Dynamic 1, a robotic dog by Tecno, do?

many features to enhance owner interaction

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

Robotic companions have also reduced agitation and medication use among veterans with dementia and provided comfort to children ages 3–10.

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Content: Breaking News
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Falls Church-based organization donating robotic pets to Ukrainian refugees in Poland

Capital Caring Health is working with the Polish government to bring emotional support to children who lost pets amid the crisis in Ukraine.

FALLS CHURCH, Va. — A Virginia nonprofit is partnering with the Polish government to help Ukrainian children who fled their homes.

Capital Caring Health, which is headquartered in Falls Church, will provide robotic cats and dogs as companion pets to refugee children who've had to leave their own pets behind because of the war.

The organization provides hospice, palliative and elder care services to around 120,000 patients in Maryland, Virginia and D.C.

CCH said in a statement that the effort has been approved by Polish officials and the robotics pets will be flown to Poland for distribution.

The statement says that clinical studies indicate that robotic pets can be a source of comfort for children between the ages of 3 to 10.

Credit: Capital Caring Health
Steve Cone, chief of philanthropy for Capital Caring Health, holds two robotic pets.

RELATED: Locals rent Airbnbs for people fleeing Ukraine as company pledges free housing for refugees

Tom Koutsoumpas, CEO of CCH, said in a statement that the organization provides robotic pets to veterans with dementia in the DMV area, which has brought about "remarkable changes in behavior."

"Among the benefits are reduction in agitation, prevention of depression, and often a reduction in medications being administered,” Koutsoumpas said.

The community can support CCH's efforts to support robotic pets for Ukrainian children effort by making a donation online. (Select the "Patient Pet Services and Robotic Companion Pets" option in the specific program dropdown menu.)

A $300 donation provides one robotic pet for both a child refugee and a veteran with dementia.

"The robotic pets are quite remarkable and interactively react to human touch, movement, and voice—like real pets," Steve Cone, chief of philanthropy for CCH said in a statement. "As we like to say no need to feed or walk or clean up after them—just enjoy their LOVE."

WATCH NEXT: 'They come to it with a curious mind' | Northern Virginia classroom examines current events in Ukraine with students

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For whom would robotic animal dolls make a big difference?

those with Alzheimer's or dementia, struggling with isolation

Researchers are working to translate key elements of human–animal bonds into robot behavior.

Title:

Content: Robots in the future will serve as a dog for the elderly or lonely people – scientists
Robots that in the future will support the elderly or lonely, should build relationships with the owner not as people, but as dogs.
In the future, this concept will be applied by developers.
Scientists from the University of Glasgow have made relevant conclusions based on new research.
This is reported on September 29 in the magazine PLOS ONE.
Scottish researchers surveyed more than 150 dog breeders and found that there are seven of the most commonly cited factors most closely related to animals.
These include the ability to communicate, the predictability of reactions, the physical signs of attachment, a positive, sometimes even enthusiastic approach, a propensity for joint activities, a sense of intimacy and, finally, the ability to adapt to each other.
Perhaps robots that behave this way will be approved.
The researchers suggest that embedding this type of behavior into robot software will allow them to provide their owners with the same experience and health benefits as friendship with a real animal, without the attendant responsibilities.
This will allow the technique to be used effectively.
"Our approach has allowed us to gain knowledge about the factors that make people so enjoy the company of dogs.
Although it will not be easy to recreate such behavior in robots, it can help in creating friendships for wards, ” the authors said.
In the next phase of the study, a team led by Katie Riddock intends to conduct tests involving humans and robots behaving like dogs.
An additional topic of study may also be the dependence of preferences of different types of dog behavior depending on the age, origin and environment of specific people.
Earlier, Cursor reported that engineers have created a robot that searches for lost things.
The system uses visual information from video cameras, as well as radio private signals, so it is highly efficient.
Read the latest news from Israel and the world on the Kursor channel in Telegram.
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Scientists identified seven factors related to animal companionship and suggest robots may yield health benefits similar to real animal friendships, without the responsibilities of pet care.

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

Interactive robots like AIBO and therapeutic robots like PARO are used to reduce isolation and foster social activity in older adults.

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?

Adoption spans multiple countries and care models.

Robots accompany elderly residents in Japan, Denmark, and Italy, and New York State has distributed companions to hundreds of older residents.

Robot dogs like AIBO are popular in Japanese nursing homes to alleviate loneliness.

Title:

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

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

Costs vary widely, creating options for different budgets.

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Xiaomi CyberDog is an unexpectedly affordable open-source robot puppy

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 4 days ago

Xiaomi is getting in on the robot business, with the new Xiaomi CyberDog revealed to take on Boston Dynamics but at a fraction of the cost. Announced today alongside the Xiaomi Mix 4 smartphone, the CyberDog will be priced at RMB 9,999, or the equivalent of under $1,600.

A Boston Dynamics Spot robot-dog, in contrast, costs around $70k. The difference, mind, is that Xiaomi is looking to owners of the CyberDog to do some of the heavy lifting when it comes to programming.

The software is open source, and Xiaomi is setting up its own community of robotics developers who’ll be able to share activity modules and other components they develop. Software runs on an NVIDIA Jetson Xavier NX chipset, which Xiaomi boasts has 21 TOPS of pricing power from its 384 CUDA cores, 48 Tensor Cores, and twin deep learning acceleration engines, combined with a 128GB “near industrial-grade” SSD.

The CyberDog itself is, unsurprisingly, modeled on a quadruped animal. At the front there’s an Intel RealSense D450 Depth camera, to which Xiaomi has added various cameras and other sensors of the sort it uses in smartphones. That includes binocular ultra-wide fisheye lenses, ultrasonic senses, GPS, and touch sensors, plus a six microphone array.

As for movement, Xiaomi apparently developed its own servo motors. They have a maximum torque output of 32 Nm, and can rotate at up to 220 rpm, meaning the CyberDog can move at up to 3.2 meters per second – or over 7 mph. It can also do complex motions, like backflips. It’s rated to carry up to 3 kg (6.6 pounds) in payload.

Xiaomi has developed action modules for things like autonomous object tracking, SLAM, and centimeter-scale obstacle avoidance and navigation. CyberDog is capable of analyzing its surroundings in real-time, the company promises, along with generating navigational maps and plotting a course to its destination, avoiding obstacles on the way. With facial recognition, it can spot and track an owner, following them through rooms while working its way around potential obstructions.

In addition to the included remote, and Xiaomi’s CyberDog smartphone app, there’s voice assistant integration for hands-free control. Xiaomi is also leaving the path open to adding more sensors or peripherals. There are three USB Type-C ports and an HDMI port, for example, so that owners could mount anything from a search light to a panoramic or motion camera, or even LIDAR.

To begin with, Xiaomi says it’s releasing 1,000 CyberDog units, priced at RMB 9,999 apiece. For the moment there’s no word on availability outside of China, unfortunately.

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Many lifelike companion pets for home or hospice use cost about $100–$150, often supported by donations.

Title:

Content: Virginia nonprofit donates hundreds of robotic pets to children from Ukraine

Children in Ukraine who had to leave their homes are getting a special surprise from a Northern Virginia nonprofit.

They look like stuffed animals, but there’s more to them.

“These are quite remarkable. They are lifelike and act like real pets. They’re affordable,” Steve Cone, chief of philanthropy and communications at Virginia-based Capital Caring, said.

The organization started integrating robotic pets into its care and provided them to patients with dementia, veterans and younger children with serious health issues.

They cost $150 and are funded mostly through donations.

Now, 500 of these pets are being sent to children from Ukraine who had to leave their homes.

“We decided this was a wonderful way to provide something unexpected and delightful that would really be heartwarming and something that the child would just be delighted with,” Cone said.

The nonprofit provides hospice care and long-term illness services for people in the D.C. area.

“Reading and hearing about these little children who have lost their homes and their pets, it just seemed like something we should try to do.”

The nonprofit is working with the Polish government to get the robotic pets to Ukrainian refugees.

“They don’t have to worry about feeding it, walking it, cleaning up after it; they just can enjoy the love that it brings them,” Cone said.

Anyone interested in donating to the nonprofit can visit Capital Caring’s donation webpage.

Valerie Bonk

Valerie Bonk started working at WTOP in 2016 and has lived in Howard County, Maryland, her entire life. She's thrilled to be a reporter for WTOP telling stories on air. She works as both a television and radio reporter in the Maryland and D.C. areas.

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Joy for All pets generally cost $120–$140, with bulk purchasing lowering prices slightly, and they require rechargeable batteries.

At the higher end, Sony’s AIBO costs $2,900 in the U.S. with cloud services included.

How much is Sony charging for the limited edition Aibo Robot Dog "Black Sesame?"

Advanced quadrupeds range from roughly $1,540 for CyberDog to $3,000 for CyberDog 2, and other robodogs like Unitree Go2 are about $1,600. [23][24].

Title:

Content: Hackaday Links: August 6, 2023

“Have you tried turning it off and on again?” is a common tech support maneuver that everyone already seems to know and apply to just about all the wonky tech in their life. But would you tell someone to apply it to a reservoir? Someone did, and with disastrous results, at least according to a report on the lead-up to the collapse of a reservoir in the city of Lewiston, Idaho — just across the Snake River from Clarkston, Washington; get it? According to the report, operators at the reservoir had an issue crop up that required a contractor to log into the SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) system running the reservoir. The contractor’s quick log-in resulted in him issuing instructions to local staff to unplug the network cable on the SCADA controller and plug it back in. Somehow, that caused a variable in the SCADA system — the one storing the level of water in the reservoir — to get stuck at the current value. This made it appear that the water level was too low, which lead the SCADA system to keep adding water to the reservoir, which eventually collapsed.

The blame game seems to be settling in on software as the culprit, but we’re not so sure. This seems to be the reverse of the “software fixes for hardware problems” trend (second item) we’ve been harping on recently. Sure, the contractor should have known that losing network connectivity could cause problems, and it’s not cool to release software to production that can result in variables left in an undefined state at startup. But this really seems more like a problem with the mechanical design of the reservoir, whose job is to safely hold water. Were there no fail-safe features like a spillway to channel overflow water away without causing damage? Blaming the software alone seems

Resin printers — seems like people either love them or hate them. Or maybe a little of both; the quality of the prints is pretty phenomenal, but oh, the stink of the photopolymer resins you have to use. The stuff just smells dangerous, like an organic chemistry lab, and with good reason. So if you want to keep your resin printer going safely, you might want to take a look at new guidelines for the safe handling of UV-curable resins. The guidelines are the joint product of the Photopolymer Additive Manufacturing Alliance (PAMA), the National Institutes for Standards and Technology (NIST), and RadTech, the Association for Ultraviolet and Electron Beam Technologies. The guidelines cover best practices in terms of clean-up, spill control, storage, and disposal of waste. It’s mostly common sense stuff, but given the chemically complicated nature of photopolymers, a little reminder of the basics is probably a good thing.

3D printers aren’t the only printers that can be dangerous, of course, as Canon helpfully reminds us to practice good data security when disposing of old printers. The suggested steps include deleting your WiFi credentials, which seems like an obvious step and one that could be accomplished by a factory reset. But according to Canon, that’s somehow not enough for at least 200 of its printer models. So once the ink runs out and you’re ready to pitch the thing and buy a new one rather than being extorted into emptying your wallet for new cartridges, make sure you take all the extra steps recommended to clear your data. It’ll be fun, really.

“Banana for scale”? Not anymore — behold the wonder of the online parametric banana generator. If you’ve been looking for a way to generate custom bananas of any size and shape, here’s your chance. You control the length, girth, and bend radius of the fruit, and the model does the rest. Sadly, surface texture and bruising aren’t supported, and it looks like only the now-ubiquitous — and possibly endangered — Cavendish banana is supported. So no plantains, please.

And finally, we leave you with “Unitree Go2,” a robodog that’s the “new creature of embodied AI.” It actually looks pretty cool, and at $1,600, it seems like a bargain, at least compared to a Boston Dynamics Spot, which will set you back like $40K. Go2 seems like the perfect little pet who will run up to greet you when you come home and “dance to pleasure you” too, if you’re lucky. There’s the fine print, though, of course — the pro model will run you $2,800 plus shipping, and a cool 25% duty if you’re in the US. But when you think about it, some purebred dogs go for about that much, and if you add in vet bills, food, and training, this just might be the right way to go.

ElliQ operates on a subscription model of $30–$40 per month plus a $250 registration fee.

Public attitudes and ethics are actively debated.

Public perception is generally positive about using robotic pets as companions for the elderly, and demand is especially visible in Japanese nursing homes.

At the same time, scholars and ethicists question what it means to replace real animals—or human relationships—with AI companions. [7].

While robots can offer companionship and support, they operate through algorithms and programmed responses and do not have subjective experiences like humans.

Title:

Content: Summary:
In recent years, the field of robotics has made remarkable progress, leading to the development of advanced humanoid robots.
As these machines become more intelligent and able to simulate human emotions, the question arises: Can a robot really fall in love?
This article delves into the complexities of human emotions, the limitations of artificial intelligence, and the ethical implications of human-robot relationships.
Through a combination of research, analysis and expert opinion, we aim to shed light on this thought-provoking topic.
Can a robot fall in love?
The concept of love has always been considered a unique human experience, characterized by complex emotions, attachment and intimacy.
However, with rapid advances in robotics and artificial intelligence, the line between man and machine has become increasingly blurred.
This begs the question: Can a robot really experience love?
To understand this, it is important to define what love involves.
Love encompasses a wide range of emotions, including affection, attraction, empathy, and a deep sense of connection.
These feelings are deeply rooted in biology, psychology, and personal experiences.
While robots are able to mimic some of these emotions, they lack the basic human experiences that shape and define love.
One of the main limitations of robots is their inability to have awareness or subjective experiences.
Love, as humans experience it, involves a personal perception of the world and the ability to feel emotions on a deeply personal level.
Robots, on the other hand, operate on the basis of algorithms and programmed responses, and lack the ability to engage in real emotional experiences.
In addition, love involves reciprocity and mutual understanding, which is difficult to replicate in the relationship between a robot and a human.
While robots can be programmed to respond to certain stimuli and exhibit affectionate behaviors, these behaviors are predetermined and lack the spontaneity and originality that defines human love.
Furthermore, the ethical implications of human-robot relations must be considered.
The idea of forming emotional attachments to machines raises concerns about objectification, exploitation, and possible emotional damage.
It is essential to ensure that the development and use of robots in intimate relationships is guided by ethical frameworks that prioritize the well-being and autonomy of both humans and machines.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Can robots experience emotions?
A: While robots can mimic emotions through programmed responses, they lack the subjective experiences and awareness needed for real emotional experiences.
Q: Can robots develop human connection?
A: Robots can be programmed to display association-like behaviors, but these behaviors are predefined and lack the depth and complexity of human associations.
Q: Are there any risks associated with forming emotional bonds with robots?
A: Yes, there are ethical concerns surrounding objectification and the potential emotional harm that can arise from forming intimate relationships with machines.
Q: Could advances in artificial intelligence change the possibility of robots falling in love?
A: While future developments may lead to more sophisticated robots, they are unlikely to possess the subjective experiences and awareness needed for true love.
Q: What are the potential benefits of human-robot relationships?
A: Human-robot relationships have the ability to provide companionship, support, and assistance to individuals who may be socially isolated or in need of specialized care.
Sources:
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: https: / / plato.stanford.edu / entries / emotion /
- Ranger: https: / / www.theguardian.com / technology / 2017 / sep / 26 / can-robots-fall-in-love-artificial-intelligence
– MIT Technology Review: https: / / www.technologyreview.com / 2019 / 03 / 06 / 136974 / robots-cant-love-but-they-cant-help-getting-in-the-way-of-our-relationships /

Some research warns that intensive reliance on AI companions can exacerbate social isolation, foster emotional dependence, and hinder development of real‑world social skills. [31].

Experts emphasize balancing the use of robotic companions with human connections and recognizing that these devices may not fully replace human interaction. [7].

In sum, robotic pet companions are showing measurable benefits in reducing loneliness, easing anxiety, improving mood, and supporting caregivers, especially in dementia care and senior living. [1][3].

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?

Today’s market offers choices from simple, touch‑responsive pets to sophisticated AI companions with face recognition, self‑learning, and telehealth‑adjacent features. [5][8][24].

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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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The AI Cloud plan allows robotic dog Aibo to do what?

What can Dynamic 1, a robotic dog by Tecno, do?

many features to enhance owner interaction

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

Their expanding use raises important ethical questions about empathy, authenticity, and the potential to substitute for human and animal relationships, underscoring the need for thoughtful, person‑centered deployment. [7][16].