ROBEAR, developed by the RIKEN-SRK Collaboration Center for Human-Interactive Robot Research in Nagoya, is a successor to RIBA, which was developed in 2011. The new ROBEAR robot is lighter than its predecessors, weighing just 140kg, and incorporates a number of features that enable it to exert force in a gentle way.
It includes actuator units with a very low gear ratio, allowing the joints to move quickly and precisely, and allowing back drivability, meaning that the force encountered by the actuators as they perform their tasks can be quickly fed back into the system, enabling softer movement.
It also incorporates three types of sensors, including torque sensors and Smart Rubber capacitance-type tactile sensors made entirely of rubber, which enable gentle movements, ensuring that the robot can perform power-intensive tasks such as lifting patients without endangering them.
The robot also has a smaller base, making the total system more lightweight. It avoids falling over through the use of legs that can be extended when necessary for lifting a patient, but retracted to enable the robot to manoeuvre through tight spaces.
Toshiharu Mukai, leader of the Robot Sensor Systems Research Team, said: "We really hope that this robot will lead to advances in nursing care, relieving the burden on care-givers today. We intend to continue with research toward more practical robots capable of providing powerful yet gentle care to elderly people."