Robot Revolution - Mobile Robots

[XenaLives]

The latest information on Kompaii.

Kompaii from Robosoft was funded by the EU. When I last looked into it I found that it could only move to predesignated positions and was little more that a telepresence unit.


http://www.brl.ac.uk/projects/mobiserv/index.html

I thought the above article was interesting because while Kompai was pictured the headline was "MOBISERV - An Integrated Intelligent Home Environment for the Provision of Health, Nutrition and Mobility Services to Older Adults ". Seems to be recognition of the lack of autonomy on the part of Kompai

The project discussed will include three separate systems, but I think GeckoSystems' CareBot integrates all three.

The project aims to produce three key sub-systems for assisting older people. A wearable health status monitor which smart sensors woven into undergarments (Smartex and CSEM); a secure tele-alarm and health reporting system; and a nutrition support system (Thessaloniki), which will consist of reminders when meals and drinks are missed and encouragement when people experience loss of appetite. All these systems will be linked to a robotic platform incorporating speech-based interaction, which will also facilitate communication — providing people with an easy to use facility for keeping in touch with relatives, friends, medical personnel and carers.

http://www.brl.ac.uk/projects/mobiserv/index.htm

Note the international panel at the bottom of the page.

More comment on the need for an eldercare robot:

22 August 2011

Kompai is a robot companion to humans who need one. Born in a workshop near Biarritz, France, Kompai is the fruit of the FP7 project MOBISERV to explore how machines can help the elderly and disabled. The result is a blend of watchdog, care assistant, and everyday computer. Vincent Dupourqué, the president of Robosoft, the company behind the venture, explained the idea: “A robot is certainly one of the best answers, the best technological answer to help people who are housebound.” One of Robosoft’s robotics engineer, Arnaud Lago, gave more details: “It’s a mobile robotic platform which is able to move around an apartment automatically. It is equipped with a laser and distance sensors for navigation and security. There’s a tablet PC with a tactile interface that allows it to interact with the person who’ll be using it, two directional microphones in order to speak to it, and a camera to allow the person to speak to others.” Kompai should be able to go where you tell him, help with the shopping list and even play games. Kompai’s creators argue that the growing number of elderly people in Europe means there is an emerging market for robotic home help. Not just practical help either, but as Vincent said, also companionship: “Most people find they’re really, really comfortable with the robot. We saw with the first tests with real patients that after a few minutes they forgot it was a machine and talked to him as if he was a person.”

http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/newsroom/cf/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=7250&utm_campaign=isp&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=newsroom&utm_content=tpa-38

Randy Trower, ex Microsoft exec signed on to the project this fall:

http://robosoftnews.wordpress.com/category/kompai/

And it seems that GOSY navigational system is their biggest need:

This robot is a prototype, and as Arnaud explains there is room to improve its interaction with humans and their environment.

“The first thing that we want to improve is the obstacle avoidance, so that the robot can be capable of avoiding completely unexpected objects in its path,” he said.

Kompai’s creators argue that the growing number of elderly people in Europe means there is an emerging market for robotic home help.

http://www.euronews.net/2011/02/28/meet-kompai-your-robot-friend/

It sure sounds like they are looking for the navigational system demonstrated here:

http://www.geckosystems.com/investors/press_releases/20111108_Wheelchair%20Demo.php

The Japanese want it, the Chinese want it, What's next, the other side of the pond?





This is a HUGE market.