While nursing homes and hospitals are viable options for the elderly, many in Honda's home country of Japan are turning to robots to help around the home to improve quality of life for those who have trouble living on their own. One in five Japanese citizens are 65 or older and the automaker has announced that they, along with the help of Sekisui House, will be testing state-of-the-art household robots in the hopes of improving home life for those who need it most.
Two key technologies are being tested in a mock household environment using Sekisui House's SUMUFUMU Lab. The first of which is the UNI-CUB, a Segway-esque personal mobility vehicle that can help those who have trouble walking get around their homes move with surprising mobility.
The second is the Walking Assist Device with Bodyweight Support System. As the name suggests, it's an exoskeleton attacked to the lower body that supports the wearer's weight on the legs to allow for easier walking, easing stress on muscles and joints. Along with walking, it can also help crouching, sitting - or standing up - as well as climbing stairs. It's been tested with success on Honda employees who have suffered back injuries who wish to continue working.
While they're still in testing, the hope is to eventually get the systems in the mainstream. Practical use can not only help the elderly or handicapped get around their houses with more mobility and independence, but even help many resume working in an office or factory environment more quickly after injury.
It's a fascinating and wonderful future for Honda, and all of us here at Tom Scott Honda in Nampa, ID are certainly excited at the potential applications of such devices. As for now, we currently offer incredible new Honda vehicles for you to peruse to your heart's content. Our auto enthusiasts will answer any questions you have and set you up with a test drive, should something catch your eye.
