Asimo with the Disabled and Elderly

by Ronald A. Richardson

America and many other countries are faced with an aging population in an advancing world. Many people are concerned with how the elderly be taken care of in their twilight years. Many robots are in development today for the elderly of tomorrow, but one humanoid stands out amongst them all, Asimo. Asimo is the most advanced humanoid to date, primarily because of the advanced applications it has that can be used to assist the elderly and disabled. Through these advanced applications life for the disabled can be improved. For example, today it is a risky challenge for a blind person to cross the street even in suburban areas with all of the cars on the road. It is even more of a challenge for a blind person to cross the street in a urban area such as New York City. Asimo has the ability to recognize moving objects and safely avoid them, this would allow Asimo to guide a blind person across the street safely. Asimo’s applications could also be used to help amputees. Asimo has a brain interface feature that allows the user to control Asimo through their thoughts alone. Picking up objects and moving objects, or even writing is essential to helping a disabled amputee restore their abilities. Asimo is the state of the art humanoid, who has the applications and technological advances to improve the lives of elderly and the disabled.

The ability to learn plays an essential role for helping the elderly and disabled. For Asimo to become household friendly for the elderly, Asimo will have to learn what things in a home are. If an elderly person was to accidentally leave a stove running, Asimo would be able to learn what a stove is and it’s purpose in order to alert the elderly that the stove is still running. In testing Asimo’s ability to learn a user showed Asimo a car, and he was able to recognize what cars were. Next the user showed Asimo a mini cooper, now Asimo is able to find Mini coopers as a type a car among many different cars. This learning capability can be useful even to the blind, allowing Asimo to tell the user what the object is, and also be able to notify the user if it is safe or dangerous. One can find how helpful these features could be to the disabled and elderly.

Robots are rapidly being developed all over the world, it’s a race for the most advanced humanoid, and the question to most developers is, “is how can a humanoid be used in day to day life?” Research done with Asimo shows that a person without arms could find Asimo useful everyday. By using the “Brain Machine Interface” a human is able to control Asimo’s actions through thought alone. This is a type of mind control technology that actually works. It works by the user wearing a headset containing both electroencephalography and near-infrared spectroscopy sensors, the user simply imagines moving either their right hand, left hand, tongue or feet; and Asimo makes a corresponding movement. It may require a headset for now, but just imagine how much easier it would be on a soldier who lost a limb in war. If he was able to move and control a functioning robotic limb through his thoughts alone, for that soldier it means a lot, no complicated surgeries on nerves, or less functioning prosthesis. Honda’s Asimo offers much more simplicity in cybernetic limbs than even surgical nerve controlled cybernetic limbs; furthermore the simplicity of thought controlled robots alone is a good route for the elderly or disabled who are mute, or cannot pronounce words. Yes, Asimo is so simple even someone who cannot speak can control the humanoid.

Asimo has elderly friendly features that will come in handy. Asimo is able to connect to a users home network, and even access the internet for information. Asimo is also able to recognize faces, and remember who someone is. Asimo is also able to recognize voices, postures, gestures, and even multiple voices at once. Most elderly would prefer to live in their own home, rather than live in a depressing nursing home. Asimo is the simple solution to improving the life of the elderly in disabled, versus hospital care, and the boring nursing homes. If one were to be asked if they would like to live out the rest of their elderly days in a nursing home, many would simply refuse to. Online there is a video of an elderly woman reading in chair, Asimo walks up to her with her medicine and a snack he has prepared for her; Asimo then proceeds to remind her that it is 5 o’clock and that it is time for her to take her medicine. She takes the medicine and thanks Asimo. This is the same thing that happens in nursing homes, but elderly have the choice to live the way they want to, where they want to in their lasting years.

Honda recently developed a walking assist device for the elderly in additional to Asimo. Asimo was created the way it was for a number of reasons. It is four foot six in order to help elderly who are in wheelchairs. In fact many would argue that with the potential capabilities of Asimo, such as disarming a bomb. Honda assures that Asimo will never be used in any type of military applications. Asimo is strictly built for assisting around homes for now. Though Honda does seek intentions for Asimo to go to places to dangerous for humans, but only in the name of science. There is even talk of a new module that will allow Asimo to vacuum floor’s in a elderly woman’s home, and even prepare food perfectly by the books. If taking care of the elderly is just not enough, Asimo can also entertain the elderly, and even lend a hand when the grandchildren are over. Asimo composed an live orchestra in Detroit in front of a live audience successfully, without a single error. Imagine an Asimo that could act out scenes from your favorite movies, projecting the exact voices of your favorite characters. Even the small things such as entertainment can make a disabled persons life much better.

Just like ones smart-phone, Asimo can save data, search data, and even charge; but an iphone cant charge itself, while Asimo can. Asimo even has manners, and Honda is continuously improving this humanoid, making it better each year, and more serviceable to the elderly and disabled population. If a disabled person requires more attention than just one humanoid or person, Asimo can even work together in groups. Multiple Asimo’s can be aware of each others presence, and able to communicate in order to complete servant task.

There are about 750 Million disabled people in the entire world, who all need a little help from now and then on. The idea of a population of as many of up to 1 Billion Asimo’s may frighten some people, but how many computers are there being actively used at this very moment someone could ask. The elderly require assistance in this ever-changing technological empire we call earth. This will improve the lives of millions, making them feel better about themselves. Asimo is not a God, or a religious idle, but with Asimo, many disabled or dismembered people can be fully functional. Lifting objects, or even playing an instrument again is important to the disabled people of the world. The skills they could regain through this technology is endless. The elderly will never forget to take their medicine again, and will always have someone to keep them company and entertain them. This may sound creepy to one, but the lonely elderly woman, or the elders in nursing home understand. An Asimo that can do simple task for people who are unable to do these task for various reasons, they will appreciate the research. This advanced humanoid could very well be the worlds solution to the elderly in the future. This humanoid Asimo, can improve the lives for the elderly and disabled by using its advanced applications. With Asimo in effect taking care of the elderly and assisting the disabled, we will find improvement in the care of our loved elderly, and disabled citizens with everyday challenges. Asimo will allow the elderly and disabled to find themselves in a technological world that is much better for them.