May 29, 2015Terapio autonomous robot designed to replace medical carts

Terapio with one of its developers in Japan (Credit: Toyohashi University of Technology)

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Doctors and nurses in Japan – or in other countries, for that matter – may soon have some robotic company when making their rounds. That's because researchers at Toyohashi University of Technology are developing an omnidirectional robot named Terapio, that's designed to take the place of a traditional medical cart.

When accompanying staff down corridors and into rooms, Terapio can operate in Tracking mode. This means that it visually tracks the person who it's assigned to assist, and autonomously follows behind them while also avoiding obstacles.

In order to more precisely position the robot for specific asks, that person can move it manually via its Power Assist mode. In this case, they simply push lightly on a ring-shaped handle on the robot, and it responds by moving itself in the desired direction – not too unlike the SESTO hospital bed motor.

Finally, in Rounds mode, Terapio is reportedly able to obtain patients' vital signs data using its manipulator arm. It can also store that data and subsequently display it, on its LCD touchscreen. That screen is also used for controlling the robot's various functions, and for displaying a Baxter-like set of animated eyes that are said to make it seem friendlier and less intimidating.

When not in use, the plan is for Terapio robots to dock at a charging station, where they will also receive software updates through a server connection.

There's no word on when the technology is expected to see real-world use.

Terapio自动机器人或可代替医疗车

Terapio自主机器人设计用于替代医疗carts

Terapio与它的开发者在日本一（图片来源：丰桥技术科学大学）

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医生和护士在日本 - 或在其他国家，对于这个问题 - 可能很快使他们的回合时，有一些机器人公司。这是因为研究人员在丰桥技术科学大学正在开发一个名为Terapio一个全方位的机器人，这是设计上采用了传统的医疗车的地方。

当下来的走廊，进入房间随行工作人员，Terapio可以在跟踪模式下运行。这意味着，它在视觉上跟踪谁它指派协助的人，和自主地遵循它们后面，同时避开障碍物。

为了更精确地定位机器人特定要求，则该人可以手动通过其动力辅助模式移动它。在这种情况下，他们只是扒拉机器人上有一个环形把手，它响应由移动本身在所需方向 - 不是太SESTO病床电机不像

最后，在大红大紫模式，Terapio据报道，能够利用其机械臂取得病人的生命体征数据。它也可以存储数据，并随后显示它，它的LCD触摸屏。该屏幕也用于控制机器人的各种功能，以及用于显示巴克斯特般的一套动画的眼睛说，使其显得更友好，少吓人的了。

不使用时，该计划是Terapio机器人对接。在充电站，在那里他们还将通过服务器连接接收软件更新

还有时该技术有望看到实际使用无字