Foxconn and Kawasaki Heavy Industries have unveiled Nurabot, a robot assistant designed specifically for hospitals and clinics. The model is based on the Nyokkey social robot, which was previously used in nursing homes, restaurants and infrastructure facilities. The Register reports.
Nurabot is equipped with two manipulators for moving objects, has a luggage compartment and is able to move independently. Its main purpose is to perform auxiliary tasks that are usually assigned to nurses: delivering medications, transporting test samples, and orienting patients in a medical facility. The robot can also interact with patients - for example, telling them about hygiene rules.
The software was developed by Foxconn and tested at the Taiwan Veterans Hospital in Taichung. Both companies say that the shortage of medical personnel is becoming a global problem, and such work can partially solve this issue.
Kawasaki also separately introduced another robot, the MC006V, for pharmaceutical companies. This device can withstand aggressive chemical environments, has six degrees of freedom, can work in sterile conditions, and can move loads of up to 6 kg.
Foxconn and Kawasaki plan to bring Nurabot to market in 2026. The solution is expected to be in demand in Asia and other regions with an acute shortage of medical personnel.
It should be noted that the service robot industry is also rapidly developing in Japan. For example, robot cats help elderly people work in the food industry.