Social Robots Are Coming to a Hotel or Hospital Near You

April 11, 2016

Technology is making robots more human-like––and perhaps more "loveable" as a result. 

In 2006, NAO was born weighing in at about 12 pounds and 22 inches long. Ten years later, our little electronic friends has not grown in stature, but he’s developing new talents every day. This interactive humanoid robot, created by Aldebaran Robotics, can be personalized to fit specific application needs. So far, he’s performed on stage, welcomed hotel guests as a multilingual concierge and worked with autistic children to provide positive encouragement with no judgment.

Now, NAO has a little sister named Zora. She has her brother’s looks, but her mission is a little different: Zora works as a healthcare assistant with a focus on senior citizens. Based on a software application from Belgian-based QBMT, Zora, like other social robots, is equipped with sensors, cameras, loudspeakers, microphones, and is designed to perform human-like gestures, such as blinking, maintaining eye contact and moving.

Zora’s unique software gives new life to Aldebaran’s NAO. It has successfully entered the very challenging market of health and human care with more than 200 Zoras adopted in healthcare facilities such as hospitals, geriatric and pediatric units, retirement communities, as well as centers for autistic children around the world. And, like her big brother, Zora has been integrated into several hotels. Its creators hope it will now grow in the hospitality sector as well as enter the retail industry soon.

About the Author

Stephanie Neil | Editor-in-Chief, OEM Magazine

Stephanie Neil has been reporting on business and technology for over 25 years and was named Editor-in-Chief of OEM magazine in 2018. She began her journalism career as a beat reporter for eWeek, a technology newspaper, later joining Managing Automation, a monthly B2B manufacturing magazine, as senior editor. During that time, Neil was also a correspondent for The Boston Globe, covering local news. She joined PMMI Media Group in 2015 as a senior editor for Automation World and continues to write for both AW and OEM, covering manufacturing news, technology trends, and workforce issues.

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