Japan unveils facial massages robot

WATCH VIDEO

Source: CCTV.com | 10-26-2007 12:58

Oct. 9: A researcher has his face massaged by the WAO-1 robot at Waseda University's Atsuo Takanishi laboratory in Tokyo..(AP)

Japanese scientists have unveiled a robot that performs facial massages. Programmed with a variety of basic massages, it is hoped the robot will help people with jaw disorders.

This is the new robot giving a full facial massage.It is billed as an innovative way to help people with jaw disorders. Waseda University and the Dental Department of Asahi University developed the rubbing robot.

Hiroyuki Ishii, Research Assistant of Asahi University, said, "It feels so good although I never had a facial massage by a person."

The device has two robotic arms which can move in six directions. Each arm is equipped with a soft plunger that massages the patient's face. The plungers also match patients particular facial structures.

During the massage the robot calculates future massage patterns suitable for the patients.

Atsuo Takanishi, Professor of Waseda University, said, "We need to make sure of safety as this device has direct physical contact with patients. The most important one is called a torque limiter which automatically stops the robot's arms once more than a certain amount of force is applied. So,the robot cannot apply more force than that."

For now Takanishi and his team are looking into various applications for the robot, and hope to start selling models in the next two years. The robot will be priced at about 90 thousand US dollars.