The Japanese electronics company Panasonic has specialized in the development of robots for hospitals -., and incidentally invented a help for hairdressers
thorny the path to superstardom can make the robot world, the researchers of the Japanese electronics company Panasonic have experienced with one of her latest creations from her laboratory in Osaka: She looks unimposing – like a sink with a deck chair at the hairdresser. But behind it lies a very rangy and sensitive fellow. Soft yet firm include 24 small fingers the head of the user who rests comfortably on a couch. Shampoo spray nozzle from the robot only water, and later on the hair, while the fingers algorithmically controlled massage the scalp.
Panasonic’s engineers have developed actually to relieve the hair-washing robot for hospitals and nursing homes staff. But the device did his job so well that the engineers there last year also hairdressers imagined – with great success. A three-month test run of the helper in hair salons not only inspired the hair stylists who saw their backs and hands relieved . Also, most of the 250 tested customer explained that the robot it at least as good if not better than the barber employees had massagedThe positive feedback is unexpectedly Panasonic a problem. “We have not yet decided can, if we offer the hair washing robot about our division for health care or as a consumer product, “says Yoshihiko Matsukawa, CEO of robot development. Each of these groups would require a different business model, which must be built first. The launch, originally scheduled for late 2013, will move now
Panasonic luxury problem shows how robots gradually leave the factory buildings and capture the everyday -. Well beyond the rather simplistic Suction and mower out. The way there, however, was long and complicated: He began with the idea to support the staff in hospitals and nursing facilities. To find out in which activities can really help robot, the Group works closely with hospitals. “Robots are not pure terminal business, but we must offer solutions,” said Matsukawa. One must first analyze the operations and design the devices as part of an overall system.
The development center in Panasonic’s home town of Osaka then also looks more like an outdoor laboratory. There is ample space for visitors to try out the equipment and talk directly with the engineers. In hospitals is being tested, not only in Japan. Singapore is on the list – and the top little Denmark. “There it is much easier to get a permit,” says Matsukawa, “in Japan, we need two to three years.” The first robot Panasonic already developed in the 1990s. Only they attracted no attention because they looked like medicine cabinets. They were the first machine pharmacist. The machines sort medicines to patients in hospitals, and the faster and with fewer errors than their human counterparts. The personal savings expected, despite the high cost. Meanwhile, across the country, several hundred of these devices perform their service. From this experience starting, Panasonic developed gradually more and more service robots along the workflows in the hospital. A newer model about checks by hand or machine packaged drugs before they land at the bedside. And the transport robot Hospi, a larger than life man-parchesi not figure with screen as a face, the drug brings independently to the station. With the next generation, the Hospi-Rimo, wants to Panasonic a decisive create jump. Because the new incarnation, currently still hums as a prototype by Panasonic laboratory have gone from si! mple support to a friendly smiling telepresence robot. By popular demand, the nursing staff, it can even go and patrol autonomously talk to people. “If he sees something unusual, he communicates only itself and calls if he can not solve the problem, an operator,” said Hajime Kawano, its developer. The operator then controls the robot remotely via screen and joystick. HOSPIS display enables him even to speak face to face with the patient. Problems are there, however, a time delay of 0.1 to 0.2 seconds. This is already enough to confuse patients. “Long term, we want to establish a telecommunications between doctor and patient,” hopes Kawano. The first experiences with the robot under human optimism. The patient had accepted the HOSPIS after the first moment of surprise, at least from Panasonic surveys have shown in the clinics. There would even unexpected positive reactions: patients who can not communicate for any reason with the nursing staff, suddenly talking with robots. One reason may be that the device is new to them, experts speculate at Panasonic. According to a case study of the Robot Laboratory in Osaka Matsushita Memorial Hospital Hospi came first on the other hand, concerns the nursing staff. He rolled so slowly that some sisters asked if it would not be faster to run itself, says hospital chief Tetsuro Yamane. “But then we stopped the time and found that Hospi is quite fast.” The hospital administration sees in him the advantage that they can save the high purchase and maintenance costs of a production line for the medical delivery. For Hospi can take the elevator. And it brings fun into the corridors. “Hospi makes little kids happy, visitors snap photos of the robots,” said Yamane. In addition, he was polite. He says, “Excuse me!” When he meets a person, and “thank you” when the person escapes. Meanwhile, the nurses treat the transport robot as a team member and say “Let’s call Hospi”. Wh! en, howev! er, the dream comes true when the robot tele Doctor is currently open. Especially the remote communication in hospitals is controversial. “We need further analysis of workflows and have to consult more with nurses and doctors,” said Matsukawa. Panasonic For developers, however, the robot revolution only a matter of time. “I imagine as the future, Star Wars before,” says Hospi-developers Kawano. “There is R2-D2 droids like C-3PO and many other models -. Quasi specialized tools” They would have no idea how people behave. “Why should they have legs if they need only one arm?” “Hospitals are robots might already spread in two to three years.” Soon, patients might even be on one of them. Panasonic has developed a robotic bed that transforms a button in an electric wheelchair. Even Bedridden can suddenly get around unassisted in the hospital. The model is close to the market. Panasonic remains now only to solve his little problem: Who is allowed for now enjoy the delicate hair scrubber with 24 fingers ( Martin Kölling em>) / <- RSPEAK_STOP -> (bsc)<- RSPEAK_START -> <- AUTHOR ! MARKER DATA END ->
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This text is the magazine issue 05/2013 Technology Review removed. The booklet can, just like the current issue, be ordered online here.
