In a world with an aging population and fewer people available to provide care, emotionally intelligent robots can help bridge the gap between caregivers and care recipients. However, designing humanoid robots for elderly care presents unique challenges related to usability, privacy and personal integrity. In this project, MERPHI tackled these challenges to help Twolabs create a bimanual, wheeled humanoid robot that can support both the caregivers and care recipients of tomorrow.
TWOLABS aims to create a modular humanoid robot for data collection and autonomous deployment. One of its key application areas is elderly care, and the client approached us to develop the robots industrial design and human-robot interaction (HRI). As the assistive robot is intended to reduce the caregiver’s workload, its design and interaction had to support both caregivers and care recipients. Balancing these two roles was a key challenge, alongside creating an elderly care robot that felt safe and respected each user’s integrity and privacy.
At the system architecture level, we designed Tobi’s proportions and actuator placement to simplify the build, ensure good reach and achieve the right character. The human-like head, small torso and large base create a balance between appearing safe and friendly while maintaining some authority in its role as a robotic caregiver. The design prioritizes clarity, both visually and through its interactions, guiding users towards context-specific features such as handles and interfaces, and ensuring smooth interaction for both user groups.
Concept Design was done in collaboration with Industrial Designer Oscar Olsson.
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