Populations are aging in many developed countries. Their care represents significant social costs. But new technologies can provide lighter assistance solutions at much lower costs than those induced by human personnel when more substantial assistance is required. In France, personal assistance robotics is developing, offering services that can also be seen as a relief for the family caregiver. We take stock of the offer of robots for assistance to the elderly.
Without realizing it completely, robots have already taken over our daily lives:household robots, coffee machines or programmable washing machines, robot vacuum cleaners and robot mowers... We do not necessarily think of these objects when we speak of "robots" because our imagination more readily associates this term with humanoid-looking machines.
At the same time, the home help market is experiencing strong growth and its demands are of a different kind than the simple performance of household tasks such as those already mentioned. Needs for transport, medical assistance or personal assistance are increasingly being expressed. Also the development of artificial intelligence and robotics opens new perspectives.
Japan is unquestionably the leading country in the field of assistance robots. Assistance with the movement of people with reduced mobility or disabilities, assistance with dressing, surveillance are actions that some robots already perform. There is also a real demand for companion robots to stimulate the interactions of isolated people through simple conversations or brain training programs that can prevent the development of dementia.
All of these approaches are ultimately limited in comparison to the major-man robot that is under development. Its design aims for more versatility:being able to lay down and lift a lying person, keep company, ensure tele-presence. One of the challenges of these robots concerns their acceptance by the general public. It is the robot that must adapt to the human and not the other way around:it is by basing the design of robots on this logic that they will become more widely accepted. Because the fear of dehumanization works the minds. Successful work, in particular the design of robots, will make it possible to establish a dynamic of humanization of technology.
Paro is an emotional therapeutic assistance robot born in 1993. Its target audience is primarily people with Alzheimer's disease. It spread to Scandinavian countries and Germany, before arriving in France in 2014. By the end of 2018, more than 200 French healthcare establishments had adopted it. It effectively stimulates the cognitive functions of patients. It has the advantage of being very robust and able to withstand involuntary acts of abuse. Studies have shown that its use significantly reduces stress in the user. The design has been particularly neat and this robot stands out. Its form is that of a seal, considered more consensual than that of a cat which may recall episodes of scratching or a dog which may be associated with fears of being bitten. The eyes are big because they are central elements in human communication. The mouth has been refined to appear less aggressive, and the head has been rounded. The movements that Paro performs are of low amplitude and cannot be interpreted as aggressive. It arouses curiosity and stimulates the awakening of patients.
The French company Aldebaran Robotics has created the humanoid robot Nao . It now measures 58 cm in height and is in its sixth version, constantly evolving since its creation in 2006. It is a real programming tool, which has become a world reference in the education and research sectors. . Its primary function is to keep company, but it is also customizable and can meet different needs. This is why it is now found in companies as well as in health establishments for reception, information and entertainment functions. Equipped with a voice recognition system, it can communicate in 20 languages.
Blue Frog Robotics has designed Buddy , the first French companion robot intended for the general public. Winner of the 2014 Innovation competition, it was marketed the following year at a price of less than 1,000 euros. Its designers had been very attentive to the emotional dimensions, and everything had been thought out so that humans find it cute and friendly. But his height of 1.65 m and his bust of a man constituted elements of rejection. By calling on a design agency specializing in the user experience which has completely redesigned its appearance, Buddy is today a real success and is attracting American investors. It has even become so friendly that it is suitable for both children and the elderly. It now measures 60 cm in height. Its body can evoke that of a vacuum cleaner, surmounted by a screen that acts as a face. Its curved lines are very soft. His face, where large eyes dominate, can express a very wide range of emotions. Buddy is like a pet that can be in a bad mood because you haven't paid attention to it in a while. With an onboard camera, it can become a real guard by patrolling the house in the absence of its occupants, giving the alert in the event of a problem. He can act as a personal assistant by managing his user's agenda and notifying him of important appointments. It can also be a playmate for children. Finally, it simplifies communication with loved ones thanks to ergonomics that facilitate the sharing of photos and videos, as well as access to social networks for people who have difficulty using a computer.
Romeo was designed in 2006 by the same company that designed the Nao robot. He is 1.40m tall and weighs 40kg. Composed of carbon fiber and rubber, its shapes are all round and it is a very good assistant for elderly people with loss of autonomy. Benefiting from advanced knowledge in terms of perception and control of movement, he can open a door, pick up objects, help him walk or climb stairs. But that's not all because it can detect the emotions of the person it interacts with and adapt its behavior accordingly.
Pillo is a robot dedicated to health management. The size of a clock radio, it was designed by the French start-up Pillo Health. It can store up to 4 weeks of medication in a tamper-proof compartment, and dispenses them according to the prescribed dose on time. He can even order them when they are out of stock. This pillbox function meets a real need for the elderly who forget to take medication, do not understand the treatment well, are unable to cut the tablets... Its HD camera makes it able to recognize its owner. Pillo knows how to hold a conversation and synchronize with other devices (tablets or smartphones). It can also interface for medical tele-consultation.
There is also Toyota's Mobiro robot, which specializes in short-distance personal transport, showing itself to be able to go up or down stairs, and to follow a person while avoiding obstacles. There are still the Japanese robots Ifbot and Matilda, ...
Robots and artificial intelligence are developing massively and the market for robots to assist the elderly is not about to dry up.
