Posted 09.18.2009 at 4:39 pm
5 Comments
Robo-Bed
It will do everything but fix your bed hair.
Panasonic
Mobility-impaired patients and layabouts alike can rejoice at the debut of Panasonic's robotic bed that transforms into a wheelchair. Human nurses and hospitals may also breathe a tiny sigh of relief.
The bed-shaped bot morphs upon command to sidestep the usual trouble of moving a bedridden person from bed to wheelchair, or vice versa. Yet unlike the Japanese bear bot nurse that carries patients, a self-controlled bed bot allows humans to regain some independence and dignity.
Comfort and ease of use play a big role in this bot's appeal. Robotic Bed includes posture support with a mattress that adjusts to the person's body, and can help users turn over and avoid bedsores. The wheelchair detaches itself automatically from the rest of the bed, and even detects people or obstacles in its path.
But that's not all. A Robotic Canopy interface permits users to watch television, operate home appliances, and even check the security camera network. "Wall-E" fans may get a kick (or shiver) out of that.
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Science, Jeremy Hsu, beds, health, japan, medicine, mobility, panasonic, wheelchairs Want to learn more about breakthroughs in electronics, medicine, nanotech, and more?
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WALL-E's depiction of the future may not be that far off from the truth.
you beat me to it, skillet. I thought the EXACT same thing. Wall-E's depiction of people immediately came to mind.
This does seem safer than having a robot carry the person. At the person will not be dropped for some reason, just seems more practical. est cost would be nice to know ?
Im guessing upwards of 30k USD for starting price. Probably double. They will try to sell to hospitals and care giving establishments first and will want to make up their developmental costs from them before they market for personal use.
Wow! How impressive is this ? I recall the days where wheelchairs were driven manually and required the support of a second person to aid the movement. Also buildings and homes were never equipped for the disabled. Now we are moving towards a climate where the aids will be obsolete. Fantastic!
www.valuemobility.co.uk