Human Support Robot by Toyota

I think all of us have said at one point of another, “I could sure use an extra hand here”. Whether the situation is for everyday tasks or other situations. To fill this void robotics engineers are working on creating robots that can work as helpers and caretakers. A great example of this is Georgia Tech’s use of the PR2 robot. Now Toyota has entered the scene with its Human Support Robot (HSR).

Translator Issues
Exact information on the HSR is a little hazy right now because the press releases and websites are only in Japanese. And with Google Translate there’s a little … ahem … lost in translation. But here’s what can be said for sure. The robot is a mobile one consisting of a body, arm with grasp, and actuating head.

Robot Parts
Control of the HSR is done via a touchscreen tablet. Another tablet can also be placed on the head for remote communication such as Skype. The body is able to raise and lower so the overall height can vary from approximately 33 inches to 52 inches. Arm length is 30 1/2 inches with a grasp at the end that can pick up item up to about 2 1/2 pounds.

Helping Hand
As can be seen from the pictures the HSR can help with chore like tasks and some medical tasks. Being able to pick up items off the floor and put away items on a high shelf. Medical help could be in the form of bringing medication and communication with doctors.

Conclusion
Because of the translation haze there are a few questions about controls, limitations, and other potential features. Although HSR definitely has the potential to be a helpful support robot. Currently the HSR is being tested at the Yokohama Rehabilitation Center. For more information on the HSR you can read these Google translated articles here and here.