Researchers at the University of Tsukuba have developed a human-collaborative robot designed to support individuals with neurological conditions and age-related physical decline in performing daily activities. The robot operates within a cybernics space, a conceptual area where physical and digital environments intersect, using bioelectrical signals and gaze information to interpret user intentions and facilitate interaction.
The robot is capable of switching between three modes of human-robot interaction. This multimodal functionality enables it to control both physical robotic limbs and Internet of Things (IoT) devices, allowing users to carry out tasks without direct physical movement. During performance verification tests, the robot demonstrated a high success rate in completing routine tasks typically encountered in living environments. The research team reported that the system was evaluated to be user-friendly and effective in supporting users’ autonomy.
The development forms part of the third phase of the Cross-ministerial Strategic Innovation Promotion Program (SIP), under the initiative titled “Expansion of fundamental technologies and development of rules promoting social implementation to expand HCPS Human-Collaborative Robotics.” The program is promoted by the Council for Science, Technology and Innovation (CSTI) of the Cabinet Office, Government of Japan, and managed by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) under project code JPNP23024. Contributions to the construction of the robot’s 3D modeling and application development were made by ARGO GRAPHICS Inc. and Silicon Studio Corporation.
Photo credit: University of Tsukuba
