China to launch robots for lone elderly

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Time Out
Jul 30, 2006
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[SIZE=+1]China to launch robots for lone elderly[/SIZE]
China National News
Sunday 26th April, 2009
(ANI)

New Delhi, April 26 : Chinese scientists are preparing for the market launch of robots developed to look after lone elderly people.

According to Li Ruifeng, a member of the project with the Harbin Institute of Technology, a 1.6-meter tall robot would cater to the needs of the elderly with specifically designed functions.

These would include getting food, medicine, sounding alarms in case of water or gas leakage, sending texts or video images via wireless communications, and even entertaining their owners with a song or by playing chess, reports the China Daily.

Li said steps were being considered to make the robot, developed independently in China, fall under the affordable price range of 4,000-7,000 U.S. dollars.

He said: "We are working on testing the precision functions and ways to reduce the cost in preparations for an anticipated market launch of the robot in two to three years."