Use a robot to help older people exercise

A new robot named Robocoach launched last week at a technology exhibition sponsored by the Government of Singapore will become a sports coach for older people.

Robot Robocoach - Robots help older people exercise

These robots will be sent to over 20 sports centers for the elderly.

Robocoach is a product developed by a group of students at Ngee Ann Polytechnic with funding from the Agency for the Development of Information Communications (IDA). This is also part of a larger-scale plan called 'Smart Country.'

Robot Robocoach is teaching elderly people exercise - (Photo: IDA).

The robots will help the first old people to exercise in the Lions Befrienders Center for Older People. In the next 12 months there will be 5 more robots. Based on the feedback from the first deployment units, the distribution of the Robocoach will proceed according to the situation.

Each Robocoach is equipped with two screens. A screen on top of the robot, expressing emotions through facial expressions . A second larger screen is placed on the robot's chest, providing detailed instruction on the exercise.

In addition to instructing the exercise movements, through sensitive sensors, the robot will also give feedback on whether everyone is doing the right thing as it is 'guided' .

Singapore has the third fastest growing population in the world. It is estimated that by 2030, the island nation will have about 900,000 elderly people out of a population of between 6 million and 6.9 million.