Robots Make Disability Easier

At Ashcroft Components, we’re always interested in new developments that could change the way we deliver our special components and how this may impact on the UK and global workforce. The Guardian reported in March that “more than 10 million UK workers are at high risk of being replaced by robots within 15 years as the automation of routine tasks gathers pace in a new machine age”.

Toyota are currently developing the Human Support Robot. The eventual aim is to sell them to help care for Japan’s ageing population with huge export potential to other countries too, but in the interim, testing is underway in other areas.

Designed to perform everyday tasks like fetching medicines and drinks, the robot can roam freely about its environment. It has already been tested in hospital, but the main trial has been in the USA, with army veteran Romulo Camargo.

Life-Changing Potential

Romulo was ambushed in Afghanistan, and was subsequently paralysed below the neck.  He’s the first person in North America to enjoy the free-roaming trial of the machine, which he controls by tapping a stylus held in his mouth, onto the screen of a tablet. The device would then, for example, take him a bottle of water, and then raise it to the correct height to allow him to drink.

Whilst still fairly limited, the robot uses QR tags to identify objects in the relative clutter of a home, there are definite possibilities for the future. And its undeniable how far robotics have now come from factory floor repetition, to taking and fulfilling instructions.

Growing Market

Experts predict the industry will be worth up to $34 billion in 5 years’ time – a huge opportunity that industrial robot makers have their eye on.

But perhaps the last word for now should remain with the US veteran who already declares it a ‘big game changer for everyone with a disability.”