Robot gives help to older people

Roby Mini can order groceries, book taxis and record activity

Roby Mini is just 40 centimeters tall, has a large round screen for a head and has been designed to help senior citizens living alone.

Manufactured by robotics company Shanghai PT Info, the brightly colored robot, which costs 5,000 yuan ($790), was launched on Aug 14 to help entertain and monitor elderly people.

Family members can also check on their relatives through Roby Mini's audio and video functions.

"This robot has been designed for the elderly," says Hong Gang, cofounder and technical director of Shanghai PT Info.

"The main innovation is its voice interaction. This makes Roby Mini particularly user-friendly for seniors who suffer from poor eyesight."

In Shanghai last year, the number of registered residents at least 60 years old was 4 million. That was nearly 30 percent of the population. By 2018, the figure is projected to rise to 5 million.

With many living alone, robots such as Roby Mini can help play a crucial role in caring for the elderly. "It will change the way people interact with digital products," Hong says.

Founded in May, Shanghai PT Info had already done the groundwork. In fact, the research team spent three years developing the speech recognition system before the firm was officially launched.

From a distance of 2 meters, the robot will understand at least 95 percent of what someone is saying, according to the company. At times, the distance can stretch to 5 meters.

"You just need to tell Roby Mini what to do and it will do it after replying to your question," Hong says.

With 360-degree wheels hidden under its body, Roby Mini can follow a person through face recognition and strike up a conversation, tell jokes or provide information.

The robot also works as a computer terminal, supplying weather information, ordering groceries online and even booking taxis. Roby Mini can be connected to other gadgets as well, such as smart wristbands or magnetic devices on doors.

"The robot will read out the statistics recorded in a smart band and encourage the owner to take more exercise in a daily quota," says Liu Yiqing, public relations manager at Shanghai PT Info.

Other functions include collecting information from magnetic devices installed on doors and sending the data to family members. "It's a way to alert them to unusual activities by their relative," Liu says.

Roby Mini can also connect an elderly owner to a doctor through its high-definition screen.

Already Shanghai PT Info is talking to three community hospitals in Shanghai's Minhang district. Since the robot is linked to the Internet, it can support long-distance audio and video calls.

Mass production started this month and Shanghai PT Info plans to manufacture 200,000 units this year.

"The company will promote this robot to elderly people living in several communities in Pudong New District for free in September," Liu says.

But Shanghai PT Info will face tough competition in the marketplace. Earlier this year, Flyingwings Intelligent Robot Technology (Shanghai) introduced a machine with sensors that will ring an alarm when an elderly person falls down.

Tianjin Shangjiu Shengyuan Technology Group also developed a robot for seniors in 2014. Owners can turn on the lights and air-conditioning units by pressing buttons on the machine.

It can also remind elderly owners to take pills, and inform them of hospital checkups and family birthdays.