"It is not the goal, the people to cultivate."

Until robots deployed to the nursing staff in routine tasks to relieve it is only a matter of time - it is believed at the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology and Automation. It shows a prototype in a test apartment, which he may be cooler, but more reliable Butler.
  The training apartment of "Care-O-bot 3" has a kitchenette and a living room with sofa. By the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology and Automation (IPA) in Stuttgart has developed service robot can fetch drinks or even empty the trash.
"He can operate perfectly," says Christopher Parlitz, with his colleagues, the helpful assistant has co. Around 250,000 euro cost of the prototype. The ultimate is the use in the care sector. But until then the way is long.

Although running since early November a model project in a nursing home. But there will be only one try, for what the machine is used at all. Parlitz clarifies: "It is not the goal, the people to maintain." Conceivably, for example, would be the issue of food or the transport of files. This would allow the staff of routine tasks and will intensify its efforts to patient care.
The 32-year-old graduate mathematician says that the only people to around 150 kilograms of heavy machinery should be used. It radiates even something human, if they just nod and thus indicated that they understood what their role is.
Controlled is the assistant of the future with the voice of the people. The prototype is aware of a cold and businesslike design marked. "The more human, the robot looks, the more expectations are awakened," says Parlitz. A face has a very mobile and non-jointed machine.
Cooler guy with manners
For the detection of objects that he should hand over, the robot uses a special camera. She is paired with a color, a colored three-dimensional picture of the environment provides. The robot can be used in any direction and tight spaces sovereign happen. Is he in his apartment of training a person who he knows approached, he verbeugt.
At the front is a tray attached, the interface between the robot and its users. Through the use of the tablet for the surrender of a bottle, for example, ensures that there is "a safe interaction between humans and robots", as Parlitz calls.
At the back of "Care-O-bot 3" is a 120 centimeter long arm mounted. A total of 28 motors and numerous joints ensure that the machine is mobile and flexible applications. But before they may even correct in the nursing service is doing, the Fraunhofer scientists are still many more experiences.