表題番号:2003A-920 日付:2004/11/25
研究課題介護・福祉ロボットの基本機能に関する国際標準確立のための、各国市場調査
研究者所属(当時) 資格 氏名
(代表者) 人間科学部 助教授 可部 明克
研究成果概要
<’03年9月の欧州出張をベースに下記のテーマで国際学会で発表>



1. Healthcare Partner Robot for “Light Users”
As reviewed in the tasks of service dog, the new category of robot is proposed with
the following key points to support “Light Users".
a) Simple features close to consumer products
b) Easy to use only by simple commands
to reduce high cost/ intelligent modules
c) Use inexpensive, high reliability hardware
proven in the Factory Automation market.
d) Prepare Healthcare menus as standard software
on the platform of Human-Machine Interface (HMI) and network protocol.


2. A quick feedback to Healthcare Partner Robot concept from potential users
(1) Interview about robot features in a local town mainly to working-age and elderly people
We made demonstration of an example Partner Robot, shown in Figure 3 developed by PFU, as candidate to add-on the functions of healthcare, homecare, security, and made interview about robot features to people, coming to the life-long study festival in Tokorozawa city, Saitama Pref. in March 2004. This robot is “Mobile Agent Robot”, controlled by handy phone or PC remotely, and moves around according to instructions, detects the human-size object by CCD camera, generates pre-recorded voice accordingly, then call to pre-registered phone number to indicate these events. There are other features to turn ON/OFF TV by infra-red signal, for example.


After showing the demonstration of this robot, and panels to explain the necessity to utilize IT/mechatronics
technology for healthcare, the feedback from public citizens, 39 in total, is compiled in Table 2 and Table3.

a) The application field of healthcare is ranked as 2nd, close to the 1st ranked general assistance at home,
for home use.


b) The features, not accepted by users, are
- “To be Too emotional”,
- “Touching body while care in toilet, bath”.
c) The choice of external shape from Machine type,
Animal type, Human type, depends on the person.
d) The functions, highly expected about 50%, are
- Watch for stranger as security guard
- Monitoring and call in emergency case,
and 14 other functions are listed up as candidate.
e) The maximum affordable price varies from “50,000 yen” to “1million yen”. The top indicated range is “100,000 yen” and “500,000 yen” as 13% for each.

(2) Feedback comment in Denmark
We also had discussion about the demand of “Healthcare Partner Robot” in Sept. 2004, with the Municipality of Naestved City, Denmark, famous from their training program of social welfare system.
After explaining the material, and showing the pictures of example robots, the feedback comment from officers are relatively positive, including the person responsible for IT and leading “Tele-cities” of e-Government group as its vice-president, deputy manager of elderly people care center, international relations. They showed their interest to keep this discussion further more. It is the fact, according to the officers, that it is difficult to introduce new technology like IT to elderly people in Denmark. But the officers see the necessity to work on this item, same as we do.

(3) Other public information available in Japan
Many healthcare/homecare helpers, working at elderly people’s house, needs to take care many clients in various locations. Therefore, the service time for each client is limited, though they think it is very important to improve the customer satisfaction. Therefore, communication functions and several applications to cover varieties of “ A bit of care” requests, while the helpers are in other location, or taking the rest in the night, are key to solve this problem.
The average age of most of healthcare/homecare
helpers is relatively high. Therefore, they also need to
take care of their own health. Otherwise, the duration of
their working years becomes short, especially by the
ache in their waist. The power assist equipments are the
candidates to solve this problem.