Japan's Toyota unveils nursing robots

Patient Transfer Assist

 Fujita Health University senior assistant professor Yukari Suzuki (L) demonstrates a prototype robot 'Patient Transfer Assist' reducing the heavy physical burden of moving patients, developed by Japan's Toyota Motor Corporation, during a press preview at a showroom in Tokyo, on November 1. (AFP Photo/Kazuhiro Nogi)

AFP /Car giant Toyota on Tuesday unveiled nursing and healthcare robots aimed at helping the frail and the elderly, as the company seeks to capitalise on Japan's ageing society.
The four robots are designed to help people who have difficulty walking and to give nurses a helping hand with lifting immobile patients.

Toyota, one of the world's biggest automakers, said it had applied technology developed in cars, such as precise control of motors at high speeds, in the design of the robots.

Balance Training Assist

 A man stands on a two-wheeled "Balance Training Assist" robot, developed to support training for people with impaired balance, during a news conference to showcase Toyota Motor Corp's new robots aimed at supporting nursing and healthcare efforts in Tokyo November 1, 2011. The robot, incorporating the latest in advanced technologies developed by Toyota, is part of the Toyota Partner Robot series and aims for commercialization from 2013, according to the company. REUTERS/Yuriko Nakao

"Everyone is thinking it's hard to predict the future, but definitely the future is an ageing society," said Eiichi Saito, professor at Fujita Health University, which jointly developed the robots.
"These kind of robots will help people who might have trouble being mobile on their own to be independent."
The Independent Walk Assist robot is strapped to the user's leg and uses sensors to predict movements and augment their power and strength.

Independent Walk Assist

Fujita Health University Professor Eiichi Saito, wearing an "Independent Walk Assist" robot, walks during a news conference to showcase Toyota Motor Corp's new robots aimed at supporting nursing and healthcare efforts in Tokyo November 1, 2011. The robot, mounted onto a paralysed leg, helps the knee to bend to facilitate natural walking. The robot, incorporating the latest in advanced technologies developed by Toyota, is part of the Toyota Partner Robot series and aims for commercialisation from 2013, according to the company. REUTERS/Yuriko Nakao

The Walk Training Assist robot is designed to help those who have suffered a stroke or injury to regain the use of their legs in a natural way.
The Patient Transfer Assist, which combines weight-supporting arms and a mobile platform, is intended to help caregivers lift patients into and out of bed, with arms that act in a similar way to human limbs, Toyota said.

Balance Training Assist

 A Toyota Motor Corp. staff plays a TV soccer game as she demonstrates a "balance training assist" robot during a Toyota event displaying experimental hi-tech health care robots at a Toyota showroom in Tokyo Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2011. The mobility aid works like a skateboard to help people relearn balance. (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)
The two-wheeled Balance Training Assist robot is aimed at rehabilitation, allowing patients to play sports such as tennis or football as part of their therapy.
Toyota is looking to launch the products commercially in 2013 and is initially looking only at the Japanese market.