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CompanionAble Project's Companion Robot Hector
Hector is a companion robot created by a European Union consortium called the CompanionAble Project. Hector is the latest result in this fascinating project, which seeks to meet the anticipated needs of an aging population.
(Hector the companion robot)
CompanionAble will provide the synergy of Robotics and Ambient Intelligence technologies and their semantic integration to provide for a care-giver's assistive environment. This will support the cognitive stimulation and therapy management of the care-recipient. This is mediated by a robotic companion (mobile facilitation) working collaboratively with a smart home environment (stationary facilitation).The distinguishing advantages of the CompanionAble Framework Architecture arise from the objective of graceful, scalable and cost-effective integration. Thus CompanionAble addresses the issues of social inclusion and homecare of persons suffering from chronic cognitive disabilities prevalent among the increasing European older population.
CompanionAble Co-ordinator Professor Badii demonstrated some of Hector's capabilities as an assistive companion robot. Some of the care support facilities including diary management [and] aide memoire services..
SF legend Philip K. Dick clearly imagined a version of this device in his 1953 story The Impossible Planet, which featured the robant:
Behind Norton came a withered old woman. Beside her moved a gleaming robant, a towering robot servant, supporting her with his arm. The robant and the tiny old woman entered the control room slowly..."Irma Vincent Gordon," Andrews murmured. He glanced up. "Is that right?"
The old woman did not move.
"She is totally deaf, sir," the robant said.
From Companionable Project via Forbes.
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