Debtset – Bailiff-Sheriff Aust MEMBER Login
Panasonic sets pace in ‘assist’ robots
AUSTRALIA may be developing a lead in the field of agricultural robots – or ‘agbots’ as they are becoming known through the work of companies such as Swarm Farm in Queensland – but Japan has an advantage in human-related robotics.
Japanese multi-national Panasonic has just released a video featuring its ‘assist’ robots, which support the everyday lives of workers and the elderly. 
Panasonic has applied its advanced control and sensor technologies to create robots equipped with sensors and motors that assist human body mechanics.
Panasonic claims these human-assist robots are safe to use “and offer peace of mind”.
Now power-assist suits for industrial use have been developed by Activelink, one of Panasonic's in-house venture companies.
“Our mission is to help realise a power barrier-less society by offering a helping hand during manual labour and at other worksites,” Activelink Co. president Hiromichi Fujimoto said.
“We are proposing robotics to help at these worksites, because there will always be a certain level of work that must be done by people, and these power assist suits can help reduce the physical strain during such work”.
Mr Fujimoto said the AWN-03 was especially developed to provide lower back support. It automatically senses the user’s motion when lifting and holding heavy objects, and sends a signal to the motors to rotate the gears. It also raises the user’s upper body while pushing on their thighs, and as a result reduces stress on the user’s lower back by 15kg.
By mimicking human motion, the PLN-01 – named ‘Ninja’ – assists the user’s motion while walking and running. Mr Fujimoto suggested a practical use might be for hiking up steep mountain paths during afforestation.
An upper body unit of the Ninja is currently being developed, which will help lift and carry heavy items.
The Power Loader is a powerful suit that can be used during disaster relief, construction, and public works. It has four sensors in the hands and feet that control 20 motors.
ELDERLY CARE
Panasonic has been in the nursing business for more than 18 years in Japan, running elderly care facilities and developing devices that contribute to aged care. Panasonic is using its expertise to develop technology solutions that improve the quality of life of both the elderly and caregivers.
“As Japan has becomes an ageing society, Panasonic is aspiring to make its contribution by supporting the elderly and their families lead a comfortable life full of smiling faces and laughter” said elderly care facility Sincere Kourien’s assistant director, Hitoshi Sasaki. Sincere Kourien is run by Panasonic.
“There are many instances that can be straining to both caregivers and care recipients. Just moving from the bed to a wheelchair can be a very energy consuming both parties.”
To meet such needs, Panasonic developed Resyone, a combination of electric nursing care bed and an electric full reclining wheelchair. Resyone’s bed splits in half and one half transforms into a reclining wheelchair.
“Caregivers no longer have to lift residents from the bed to the wheelchair, so it reduces the strain on both the caregiver and residents and also helps maintains residents’ dignity,” Mr Sasaki said.
Resyone also became the world’s first product to receive the ISO13482 certification, the new global safety standard for personal care robots, he said.
Another Panasonic machine, the Self-Reliance Support Robot, assists the elderly when moving from the bed to chairs or the restroom, and empowers them to perform everyday tasks.
Mr Sasaki said this robot can sense the slightest movement and can predict how the elderly user is doing, based on the information gathered by the sensors.
A key feature is how the motors in this robot provide only the level of power necessary – just what is lacking – allowing residents to use their own remaining muscle strength. This has been found to prevent unnecessary muscle atrophy and strain. The robot also reduces strain for the caregiver, because they no longer have to use their own physical strength.
ends
