As humanoid robots and AI advance, demand is growing for machines that can interact directly with people. The Chinese company Fourier Intelligence has announced plans to produce 100 general-purpose humanoid robots, called GR-1, by the end of 2023. According to the creators’ vision, they will assist patients with rehabilitation.
Robots to assist patients
The GR-1 humanoid robots will be able to transfer patients from beds to wheelchairs and help pick up objects. These therapeutic machines will also support rehabilitation treatments. Their range of capabilities stretches from improving wrist strength and training hand and finger grip to lower-body exoskeleton exercises.
As noted by the publication Interesting Engineering, the GR-1 project was launched in 2019 to meet the needs of China’s aging population. The National Health Commission has documented that by 2035 the number of people aged 60 and older will rise from 280 million to more than 400 million.
Dzen Koh, CEO and co-founder of Fourier Intelligence, says that over time the GR-1 could care for older adults who feel isolated. The company envisions the social robot as both a therapy assistant and an at-home companion.
The new humanoid stands just over 1.64 meters tall and weighs 55 kg. It can walk, avoid obstacles, and perform simple tasks, such as holding bottles.
The robot is currently in the research and development stage, and creating a prototype will take about two to three years. Koh says the system can maintain autonomous balance while walking and carry out a variety of tasks. Developers can program the humanoid to sit, stand, and jump. Owners will be able to program its arms to pick up dishes, tools, and other objects to perform intended tasks.
Autonomous robotics
The company that produces AI-based healthcare robots specializes in rehabilitation technologies. It offers a program called RehabHub, a suite of integrated devices for physiotherapy.
Fourier Intelligence has also developed exoskeleton robots for patients. These devices support the arms and legs during physical therapy. Koh believes humanoid robots can provide significant assistance and fill gaps that previous technologies couldn’t bridge. He is confident that, over time, patients will have autonomous robots that interact with them.
The company showcased the GR-1 at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai alongside the Tesla Optimus humanoid prototype and several models from Chinese companies. Also on display was a four-legged robot designed to perform dangerous tasks in place of humans, such as detecting toxic gas in the atmosphere.
