Japan has taken a step toward the world of science fiction with the launch of a 'robot assistant' which can help workers lift heavy or disabled people to climb the stairs.
"Humans may become 'super' in the near future," said Yoshiyuki Sankai, professor and engineer at Tsukuba University who led the project. The robot, 15kg, with a powerful built-in battery, and named HAL-5, detects muscle movements through electrical signals from the skin to be amplified.
Too can move spontaneously and can help elderly or disabled to walk, said the promoters of the robot. The prototype will be exhibited at the World Expo which is taking place in Aichi (Japan).
Japan provides a growing market for technology designed around older people, which are becoming increasingly numerous in the eastern country. A government report last week suggested that the elderly were a record covering 19.5% of the population in 2004, and that percentage will grow rapidly, surpassing 35% in 2050.
0 comments:
Post a Comment