OREANDA-NEWS. July 20, 2015. The World Health Organization predicts that by 2050, 22% of the world's population will be over 60 years old1. The Japanese government estimates that by 2060, nearly 40% of Japan's population will be aged 65 or over2, requiring an ever-increasing number of long-term-care workers. This "graying" of society will affect many countries over the coming decades.

The Human Support Robot (HSR) is Toyota's answer to the ever-increasing demand for long-term elderly care in societies like Japan. With its highly maneuverable, compact, and lightweight cylindrical body and folding arm, the HSR can pick objects up off the floor, retrieve objects from shelves, and perform a variety of other tasks.

With the goal of assisting independent home living for the elderly and disabled, Toyota is teaming up with a number of research institutes to found the HSR Developers' Community. This institute will put forth a cooperative effort to hasten the development and early practical adoption of the HSR.

In caring for your loved ones, artificial intelligence is not yet a substitute for human attentiveness. In addition to local, on-site operation, the HSR can be operated remotely by family and friends, with the operator's face and voice being relayed in real-time, allowing for real, human interaction while also being able to help with daily tasks. Since it was first announced in 2012, the HSR has undergone a number of improvements based on feedback from patients and healthcare workers.