Japan has developed a robot fitness for a rapidly aging population stay fit.Taizo is a small humanoid robot that can perform a series of calisthenics routines. It is covered with a white terry cloth and looks like Frosty the Snowman in a suit.
Taizo, a game of “Taiso” (gymnastics), has 26 joints, or degrees of freedom, and can do about 30 movements, especially while sitting down. Its internal structure is rather simple and resembles many of robot kits sold in hobby stores in Japan.
The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), a state research center, and General Robotix, a spinoff company, Taizo created to help groups of older Japanese lead in rehabilitation exercises and routines general fitness.
Taizo the head, hands and feet are made of plastic reinforced with fiberglass. Your body weighs about 14 pounds and is about 2 feet tall. You can recognize simple voice commands and can link to external equipment via Bluetooth and wireless LAN. A single battery charge allows you to operate for about two hours.
The developers plan to begin leasing Taizo units next year, but did not say by how much. According to a report from Sankei News, which plan to sell the robots around $ 8,000 each.
This may sound exorbitant, but two key factors that will help the marketing of Taizo. One is the large number of elderly Japanese patients who need help with mobility and exercise. The number of centenarians in the country has doubled to over 40,000 in the last six years and is expected to reach nearly 1 million in 2050. Since Japan is little or no immigration, there is a shortage of manpower and machinery is expected to meet the demand of workers.
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