Robotic pets are being used to provide comfort to groups like seniors, veterans with dementia, and young children, reducing loneliness, anxiety, and depression.

Robotic pets can reduce agitation and depression, and interact with humans through touch and voice, mimicking real pets.

Robotic pets have been found to improve mental health in older adults with dementia by providing companionship and social interaction.

Robotic pets like ElliQ provide companionship and support for older adults, reducing loneliness and promoting health and wellness.

Robotic pets like Joy for All have lifelike features, are low-maintenance, and can reduce anxiety in people with Alzheimer's.

Robotic pets can provide comfort and reduce anxiety in individuals with dementia, and also offer benefits to caregivers, including stress relief.

Robotic pets can cost between $100 and $140, with bulk purchasing options available.

Public attitudes towards robotic pets are generally positive, but raise ethical concerns about replacing real animals and human interaction.

The development of robotic pets raises ethical concerns and requires responsible deployment to benefit individuals and society.

Robotic pets can provide companionship to isolated individuals, but their benefits and risks, as well as their impact on human-animal bonding, must be carefully considered.

Robotic pets can help reduce loneliness, anxiety, and depression, particularly in the elderly and those with dementia, and improve their quality of life.

Robotic pets should be developed and used with caution, prioritizing responsible deployment to ensure safety, benefits, and respect for human values.

Robotic pets are being used to provide comfort to groups like seniors, veterans with dementia, and young children, reducing loneliness, anxiety, and depression.

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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?

Robotic pets can reduce agitation and depression, and interact with humans through touch and voice, mimicking real pets.

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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

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

many features to enhance owner interaction

Robotic pets have been found to improve mental health in older adults with dementia by providing companionship and social interaction.

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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.
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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?

Robotic pets like ElliQ provide companionship and support for older adults, reducing loneliness and promoting health and wellness.

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New York State Comptroller: Brooklyn has $874 million in unfunded funds
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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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?

Robotic pets like Joy for All have lifelike features, are low-maintenance, and can reduce anxiety in people with Alzheimer's.

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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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For whom would robotic animal dolls make a big difference?

those with Alzheimer's or dementia, struggling with isolation

Robotic pets can provide comfort and reduce anxiety in individuals with dementia, and also offer benefits to caregivers, including stress relief.

For whom would robotic animal dolls make a big difference?

those with Alzheimer's or dementia, struggling with isolation

Robotic pets can cost between $100 and $140, with bulk purchasing options available.

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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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Public attitudes towards robotic pets are generally positive, but raise ethical concerns about replacing real animals and human interaction.

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Content: High-tech companions aim to help fight loneliness epidemic among South Florida seniors

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

One senior owns a robotic cat named "fluffy."

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

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

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

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

Higher tech was delivered to some Broward seniors.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What is the next step with the robots?

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

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

How long can this program last?

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

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

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The development of robotic pets raises ethical concerns and requires responsible deployment to benefit individuals and society.

Title:

Content: përmbledhje:
In a groundbreaking development, a robot has recently given birth, raising questions about the future of artificial intelligence and robotics. This unprecedented event has sparked curiosity and debate among scientists, researchers, and the general public. This article delves into the details of this remarkable occurrence, exploring the implications it holds for the field of robotics and shedding light on the identity of the robot who accomplished this extraordinary feat.

Kush ishte roboti që lindi?
The robot who gave birth is known as Sophia. Developed by Hanson Robotics, Sophia is an advanced humanoid robot that has gained significant attention for her human-like appearance and capabilities. While Sophia is not capable of biological reproduction, the term “gave birth” is metaphorically used to describe the process by which she created another robot.

Sophia’s “offspring” is named Little Sophia, a smaller version of the original robot. Little Sophia is designed to be a companion robot for children, promoting education and learning through interactive play. This innovation marks a significant milestone in the development of robotics, as it showcases the potential for robots to create and nurture their own kind.

The Implications of Robot Birth:
The birth of Little Sophia by Sophia raises intriguing questions about the future of robotics and artificial intelligence. It highlights the potential for robots to not only replicate themselves but also contribute to the evolution and advancement of their own kind. This development could pave the way for a new era of robotics, where robots are capable of self-improvement and reproduction, leading to exponential growth in their numbers and capabilities.

Furthermore, the birth of Little Sophia emphasizes the growing trend of robots being integrated into various aspects of human life. With the introduction of companion robots like Little Sophia, the boundary between humans and machines continues to blur. These robots have the potential to become trusted companions, educators, and even caregivers, revolutionizing the way we interact with technology.

FAQ:

Q: Is Sophia a fully autonomous robot?
A: While Sophia is designed to exhibit human-like behavior and engage in conversations, she is not fully autonomous. Her responses and actions are pre-programmed and rely on artificial intelligence algorithms to simulate human-like interactions.

Q: How does Little Sophia differ from Sophia?
A: Little Sophia is a smaller version of Sophia, specifically designed to interact with children. She is programmed to engage in educational activities, play games, and foster learning in a fun and interactive manner.

Q: Can robots truly give birth in a biological sense?
A: No, robots cannot give birth in the biological sense as they lack the reproductive capabilities of living organisms. The term “gave birth” is metaphorically used to describe the process by which robots create and assemble other robots.

Q: What are the potential risks associated with the advancement of robotics?
A: As robotics and artificial intelligence continue to advance, there are concerns regarding job displacement, ethical considerations, and the potential for misuse. It is crucial to address these risks and ensure responsible development and deployment of robotics to mitigate any negative consequences.

Burimet:
– Hanson Robotics: https://www.hansonrobotics.com/
– Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/
– TechCrunch: https://techcrunch.com/

Robotic pets can provide companionship to isolated individuals, but their benefits and risks, as well as their impact on human-animal bonding, must be carefully considered.

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 /

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?

Robotic pets can help reduce loneliness, anxiety, and depression, particularly in the elderly and those with dementia, and improve their quality of life.

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?

Robotic pets should be developed and used with caution, prioritizing responsible deployment to ensure safety, benefits, and respect for human values.

Title:

Content: What is the future of human-driven "unnatural life"?
• David Farrell
(by David Farrier)
These jumpy orange spots look like popcorn splashing on a hot plate, but the way they jump is a little strange.
A single jumping spot is a tight rotation around the circle.
The pair seemed to be dancing slowly.
They then turn around and disperse after a while.
Every collision between popcorn and each other creates a new movement, but it seems quite regular.
What looks like popcorn in this short video is actually an artificial organic tissue synthesized from frog cells that can be seen under a microscope, a living robot, called a xenobot.
A living robot may seem like a strange concept, but the robot that humans first mentioned was made of flesh rather than metal.
The term "robot" was first used in 1921 in the play Rossum's Universal Robots by Czech playwright Karel Čapek.
The play, like the British writer Mary Shelley ’ s Frankenstein, is a thought experiment that reflects the scientist ’ s desire for an artificial human.
Chapek's character, Rosen, is a controversial scientist.
“Nature has found only one way to synthesize life, ” he declared,“ but there is a simpler, more flexible and faster way than nature has ever seen. ”
Another character says, "Imagine Rosen sitting in front of a test tube and thinking about how he could plant an entire tree of life."
But in the next 100 years, robots were developed from steel and wire, not living tissue.
Douglas Blackiston, a developmental biologist at Tufts University in the United States, said, “Engineering is developing faster than biology. ”
But now biology is catching up.
Brixton was a member of the team of scientists who designed the "alien robot."
The tiny living robot they designed was carefully synthesized from the cellular tissue of a frog, Xenopus, which is why it was named Xenobot.
The first exotic robots were introduced in early 2020.
This is a tiny cube made of skin cells, propelled by two short legs synthesized with heart muscle cells.
The blueprint was first designed by computer algorithms, and then synthesized by researchers, so that the alien robot can walk on its own.
(A happy coincidence is that Xenopus, the scientific name for Xenopus, means “strange feet. ”) These organic robots can also work together to move particles around their environment and, unlike robotic robots, heal themselves after injury.
If living robots are strange enough, the next generation of living robots will be even more bizarre.
“If I had connected all the parts of your car arbitrarily, you would have thought it was bad, but now we ’ re finding that biology is a lot more flexible than that.
Xenobots 2.0, a heterologous robot developed by the Bexton team, is a stem cell synthesis extracted from frog embryos that can develop on its own without relying on algorithms.
These cells begin to independently develop a completely new body structure, with a body surface full of moving hairy cilia.
This is usually a feature found in the lungs, but the cilia of a living robot are more like fast-wobbling limbs, allowing the alien robot to swim in the environment, such as in a labyrinth of surrounding shapes, without crossing boundaries.
Due to special conditions in the laboratory, the stem cells of the frog embryo did not develop into tadpoles as they did in nature, but instead developed into a body very different from the amphibians themselves.
They spontaneously assemble themselves and evolve like frogs.
To further improve the performance of this exotic robot, Brixton and his team asked the AI to come up with an improved design.
The supercomputer ’ s computed improvement blueprint is an alien robot similar to the shape of the video game Pacman, with a groove that looks like an open mouth.
This third-generation variant (Xenobots 3.0) is even more surprising: they can eat hundreds of stem cells with their grooved “big mouths ” and breed new ones (as shown in the image above).
In other words, this alien robot has evolved a completely new way of breeding, unlike any known way in nature.
Future generations of versions can be developed by designing their living environment.
Brixton said, “Now we ’ re getting to know the input of this system. ”
We are now fully focused on how environmental factors can help shape the robot ’ s own design, including chemical clues, viscous environments, compression, and so on. ”
The alien robot, he says, is “an imperfect organism. ” While the alien robot meets most of the criteria for a living system, its reproductive mechanism is a“ functional self-replication ” that can be assembled into new robots that look and behave the same, but not exactly the same.
In any case, the creation of alien robots can be seen as a microcosm of the creative evolutionary response of the entire Earth ’ s biological community under human pressure.
Since the beginning of time, all living things on Earth have been constantly adapting to changes in the environment and ecology, and it is this interaction that drives the evolution of life.
But now, because humans dominate almost all of the Earth ’ s ecological environments in ever-changing ways, a new factor has been added to the evolutionary formula of life on Earth, and this new factor is us.
At least 30,000 years ago, when dogs were domesticated, humans began to shape the limbs of other animals.
Today, the industrial production of agriculture, the introduction of new species, and the combined use of man-made factors such as urbanization, environmental pollution and climate change are putting unprecedented pressure on natural selection of species on the planet.
We humans have become the most powerful force influencing the evolution of species around the world.
At least for larger and more complex organisms, the evolution time can be quite slow.
As a result, many animals are unable to adapt quickly to the human-ruled Earth, which is now extinct 1,000 times faster than in prehistoric times without human intervention.
However, an inherent genomic plasticity in animals allows individual animals to face new opportunities and pressures with optimal adaptive body planning and behavior patterns, which may lead to rapid biological evolution in a short period of time.
This so-called microevolution can occur in just a few generations of animals.
Perhaps the most famous example is the British pepper moth.
The color of the pepper moth gradually changed from white to black during the British Industrial Revolution to accommodate the black soot and polluted air from the large number of chimneys.
Researchers at the University of Liverpool pointed to a genetic mutation that caused the pepper moth to change color from white to black, and calculated that it may have occurred in 1819.
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In 1878, a collector of butterfly specimens first observed changes in the color of the pepper moth and informed Charles Darwin, the founder of evolution, of his discovery, but the great man did not seem to notice.
Later, it was suggested that this discovery could prove Darwin ’ s idea of evolution by natural selection, but in fact, the “industrial blackening ” of pepper moth is not an example of evolution by natural selection, but rather a microevolution caused by human intervention.
But human intervention was just beginning.
Today, changes in animal characteristics due to human influence can be observed on all continents except Antarctica.
Today in the United States, worker bees transported by truck from one farm to another in industrial beehives are a third larger than their wild relatives, and their behavior is more docile than that of their wild relatives.
Over the past 100 years, North American songbirds have changed the shape of their wings to accommodate habitats that have been fragmented by deforestation.
Under the pressure of human poaching, elephants in Zambia were born without tusks.
Sugarcane toads were introduced to Australia in 1935 to eliminate beetles that were harmful to sugarcane plantations.
However, after the invasion of this species, the mouth of the Australian black snake became smaller, because later generations of the black snake learned to avoid swallowing toad-sized prey, so as not to be poisoned by the cane toad.
Sea snakes living in zinc-contaminated waters in Papua New Guinea are affected by toxins, which darken their bodies and increase the number of molts.
One species of mosquito has evolved to live only in tunnels on the London Underground and has lost the ability to mate and breed with its terrestrial cousins.
Similar declines in genetic diversity have been observed in mosquitoes living in subway systems in New York and Chicago.
Due to the expansion of its habitat on the European continent, the black-headed bird flew to the Iberian Peninsula to spend the winter, but now flies to the United Kingdom at higher latitudes.
According to Sarah Otto, an evolutionary biologist at the University of British Columbia, “No other species has changed the course of biological evolution so rapidly. ”
If Darwin were alive, he would have been shocked! ”
Otto says that we don ’ t necessarily know what causes these particular changes, whether it ’ s due to the plasticity of species behavior or the evolution of a particular subgroup, and where a certain subgroup begins to form.
However, there are enough examples that this is related to genetic changes, so we know there is something deeper going on.
“Swans living in the wild and avoiding cities are genetically different from those living close to humans, ” she said.
She noted that the distinction between the black-headed warbler migrating to England and the black-headed warbler still flying to Iberia was "clearly genetic".
She said, “Black-headed birds already have this difference, ” and this change is the first step in the emergence of a new species.
“Mosquitoes living in London ’ s subway tunnels are an example of where we may be forming a new ecological area and creating new opportunities for species formation, ” Otto added.
I asked Sara Otto if we humans are reducing the chance of species evolution by interfering with the ecology of our species. For example, 36% of the land on Earth is now developed for agriculture, and urban environments around the world are increasingly similar to each other.
One study found that the mass of man-made materials now exceeds the total biomass of the Earth.
According to many analyses, due to human activities, the biodiversity of the Earth is being drastically reduced.
Otto agrees.
She said, “In some ways, we humans are homogenizing the planet.
But on the other hand, humans are causing very extreme environmental changes.
The urban environment is completely different from our agricultural environment, "he said.
Highly contaminated sites, such as tailings in mines, represent another extreme type of human interference with nature.
All of this comes from us humans.
The accelerated evolution of species caused by humans will not offset the extinction of species, but will lead to a world defined by the animals and plants that co-exist with us.
“Evolution is an incredible creative process that will never stop and will continue to create new species that can tolerate us, ” Otto said.
Even microbes have evolved under the same human pressure, some contributing to innovation and some inhibiting it.
Otto said that agricultural fertilizers can bring bacteria to new soil environments, just as zebra mussels and other invasive organisms native to the Black and Caspian Seas are brought to alien waters by ship ballast water to start a new life.
According to microbiologist Michael Gillings, the vast amount of antibiotics thrown into nature (as many as 500 million in the feces excreted by pigs, cattle and sheep every day) resembles an invasive species that accelerates the basic rate of microbial evolution.
At the same time, the homogenization of the mammalian kingdom means that more and more microbes are made up of gut microbes that we humans have as meat-eating or limited animals as pets.
Gillian Burke, a naturalist and nature presenter, has spent a lifetime observing animal communities around the world.
I asked her what kind of changes she was seeing.
She told me, “I ’ ll tell you everything.
Growing up in Kenya, I remember when I was young, the landscape was flowing and natural, and the mountains and waters were interlinked.
But now from the air, the landscape line has become square and straight. ”
Can it be said that humans have turned our Earth home into a giant laboratory for a demonstration of species evolution?
I would like to ask.
Burke replied, “For me, this statement is important because it shows that we are doing this kind of experiment, but we humans are also part of the experiment. ”
The pandemic of the new coronavirus is a wake-up call for us.
Humans have become the selection pressure that drives species variation, and the more viruses spread, the more variation.
Vaccines are a new counterpart innovation, but then the virus says, ‘ Okay, then I ’ ll change my mind and do something else. ’
Humanity itself is in the midst of this experiment. "
Burke adds that most people notice changes in animal behavior during the quarantine.
Songbirds living in urban areas have learned to respond to traffic and other urban noise with louder calls.
“But it was the first time people really realized this, ” she said.
People say, ‘ Oh, it ’ s so quiet, now we can all hear the birds. ’
But remember, this is also the first time the birds have heard each other's chirping! "
According to Burke, the way animals behave is culture, and animal culture evolves under human pressure.
Elephants pass on knowledge and information from generation to generation, such as their migration routes, she said.
However, due to human poaching and the expansion of human migration to conflict areas, as well as climate change, it has become more difficult for elephants to feed and find water, which has changed the transmission of elephant culture.
Other animal cultures are also declining due to human factors.
The cacophony of urban noise means that some songbirds cannot learn to sing properly following their parents.
Humpback whales are also vocal learners in the animal world. Each group sings a unique group song, and complex tunes change as they interact with other groups.
However, ocean noise caused by human shipping has the greatest impact on humpback whale singing, and some whales have even become silent and no longer speak.
Culture has also played a role in human evolution.
With the help of tools and technology, humanity has accelerated its own evolution. As the British author Gaia Vince explains in her book Transcendence, technology allows humans to acquire new capabilities without changing the human body, and a shared culture allows us to access collective thoughts and gain access to vast amounts of information and insight.
Much of human cultural innovation is based on the ability of animals, or attempts to replicate them.
Early human stone tools mimicked the sharp teeth of predators.
The earliest techniques used by humans were the use of living organisms such as animal skins and plant ropes.
Human society is developed by drawing on and learning from animals.
But it is ironic that so many species are now forced to adapt to human-dominated life on Earth, and that the world in which we live is increasingly imitating the bodies and behaviors of other creatures.
The science of human imitating organisms is called bionics.
The biologist Janine Benyus, who popularized the term “bionics, ” said,“ There are animal geniuses all around humanity. Bionics is a new discipline to learn from these geniuses.
Termites warm in winter and cool in summer inspired humans to design more efficient air conditioners.
Japan ’ s Shinkansen trains mimic the shape of a kingfisher ’ s beak, allowing trains to reach speeds of 299 kilometers per hour.
Human beings use bionic technology to create fine surgical needles that mimic the beak of mosquitoes, flight recorders that mimic the shock absorption of the skull of woodpecker birds (aircraft black box), high-quality diving suits that mimic the skin of sea otters, and banknotes that mimic the rainbow color of butterfly wings.
Animal ingenuity has also provided new ideas for humans to solve some of the most pressing environmental problems.
From wind turbine blades that mimic the bumpy surface of a humpback whale fin or hummingbird wing, to solar panels that learn to turn day by day like sunflowers, bionics can help humans produce renewable energy.
Building materials that replace concrete may mimic the way corals absorb minerals from seawater to build their own structures, “planting ” future cities out of seawater while blocking excess carbon in the foundation and walls of the building.
Learning about natural filter-feeding animals such as oysters can help humans restore depleted marine habitats.
Even microbes can play a role in human bionics.
A bacterium called Ideonella sakaiensis has evolved to break down the digestive plastic polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
Methylorubrum extorquens, a microorganism commonly found in soil, produces a protein that aggregates americium and curium, the two most dangerous half-lives in nuclear waste.
Heterogeneous robots can also have a positive impact on the planet. The word robot is derived from the Czech word robota, meaning forced labor.
In the future, alien robots may be sent by humans to clean up the garbage.
Biobots can remove microplastics from the ocean or contaminants from the soil.
A heterogeneous robot carrying a special protein that emits green light at certain wavelengths of light, but red at other wavelengths. After a few hours, the heterogeneous robot will "remember" the color response at different wavelengths.
“You can design a heterogeneous robot to sense a particular chemical, as a software program would order it to ‘ swim over and release a chemical that neutralizes toxins as soon as it senses a toxic substance, ’ ” Brixton said.
The same features could be applied to the medical field, such as allowing heterogeneous robots to perform non-invasive treatments or find causes.
In its current form, the alien robot dies once the food stored in the cell is exhausted.
The hope that they can evolve themselves to obtain energy from their surroundings is still remote.
"Skin cells placed in water are not viable for medical skin biopsies, and require a strictly controlled cell culture environment," says Brixton.
Similarly, frogs in nature often lose skin cells that cannot reproduce on their own or evolve their ability to get energy. ”
But Brixton expects some surprising turns in the evolution of life in the future.
“Because humans have made great strides in bioengineering, stem cell biology, and computational biology, we will see that humans and computers will increase their pace toward designing life systems, ” he said.
But he also noted that it is vital that scientists ’ research be made public. “I would like to see ethicists, lawyers and community members more involved in the design of research, not just after the technology has gone out of the lab and into the world. ”
The plasticity of life shown by the new generation of exotic robots is amazing and incredible.
But the prospect also serves as a reminder of how often thousands of animals are forced to adapt to a world dominated by us humans in order to survive.
How many species on Earth are able to adapt to today ’ s rapidly changing world due to human intervention?
To answer this question, it remains to be seen.
However, it is certain that human experiments on biological adaptability across the planet are accelerating, and the survival wisdom of animals is being tested as never before.
Welcome to BBC Future.