Robear from RIKEN

         At one point in your life you may have slept with a teddy bear in your arms, but did you ever consider that one a day you would leave your bed in the arms of a teddy bear? 

                Enter Robear.  Last week RIKEN(the largest scientific research institution in Japan) announced that they are working  on a robot that will be used in the nursing care field.  This teddy bear looking robot would aid in lifting people from their beds, placing them in wheelchairs, and helping them stand up.  RIKEN has worked on similar projects in the past, but Robear stands out from the rest for two reasons.  

                First, it moves with speed and precision.  This is due to its use of actuators(motors responsible for moving and controlling) with a low gear ratio.  These motors also allow the robot to sense the force of the patient on itself and then gage its motions to make them more gentle.  Robear also includes three kinds of sensors that contribute to making gentle movements.  

                Second, Rober is light weight in itself,  making it easy to use.  At the same time it is able to lift around 175lbs.  This is extremely beneficial. One of the reasons Robear is being considered is that care givers have gotten lower back injuries from lifting people.  Robear would be light weight for care givers to use and it could perform heavy lifting tasks.  Check out the video below to see Robear at work.

                Robear may sound great and I am positive that this advancement can help in the nursing care field, but there are a few other things to consider.  I spoke with some elderly relatives about this new technology and their first response was  annoyance.

                 Why do robots have to take over jobs that are meant for people?  They expressed that human beings need human contact.  A robot cannot be compassionate.  They cannot understand how you are feeling from one day to the next.  The times when you need people the most, the last thing you want to see is a robot.  It was also made clear that this is true for people of any age.

                Having listened to family members  who work within the nursing care field, I know that care givers are concerned about how to best meet the needs of the people they work with, without injuring themselves.  Sometimes they need help moving or lifting someone, but no one else is around.

                Robear could be extremely beneficial in relieving the physical and mental stress that accompanies these kinds of situations.  At the same time they know that meeting the emotional needs of a person is just as important as meeting their physical needs.  This can only come from the human touch. 

                I personally feel that this technological advancement can be beneficial, but it should never replace human contact.  God created us to be relational.  This is one of the characteristics that points to people being made in the image of God.  In Genesis chapter two God made it clear that it was not good for man to be alone.  So, no matter how far advanced we become in technological equipment, we should never let it take away from the relationships God wants us to have with each other and Himself.

Resources: RIKEN,  Tech Times, The Corner News, Bible ESV