Skip to main content

Toyota's Human Support Robot can help the disabled with everyday life

Toyota's Human Support Robot can help the disabled with everyday life

/

Toyota's Partner Robot program has just announced the development of a helpful Human Support Robot (HSR) to assist the elderly and disabled with everyday tasks.

Share this story

Toyota human support robot HSR
Toyota human support robot HSR

Toyota's Partner Robot program has just announced the development of a helpful Human Support Robot (HSR) to assist the elderly and disabled with everyday tasks. Since the inception of the program in 2007, the auto manufacturer has developed robots to complete basic nursing tasks, and other Japanese researchers have created learning robots to help dress patients. This compact robot can pick up dropped objects, reach items on counters, and adjust curtains — a number of helpful everyday chores that can prove difficult for the elderly or disabled. The robot can be controlled via tablet directly by the user or remotely by a family member or caregiver, and also has a dock on its head to mount a tablet for entertainment or video chat with friends, family, and doctors. While the HSR was designed primarily with health care in mind, this robot and others like Baxter, the co-working robot, could find uses in the everyday business and personal life of ordinary consumers in the future.