Greying Japan looks to robot suits for help

As Japan greys, who will look after the elderly? Maybe one day their aging children, in robot suits, if technology under development comes out of the laboratory and into the home.

Yahoo reports that Amid the array of futuristic products for the senior citizens or their caregivers on display at a trade fair this week in Tokyo, was a power assist suit that makes it easier to lift an elderly person out of a wheelchair or bed. Yes, the suit does look clunky, and yes it takes 10 minutes to put on. And it does weigh 66 pounds. But how cool will you look? It allows the wearer to lift a person as heavy as 100 kilos as if they were carrying only half that weight.

"I don't feel heavy at all. Because of air pumped in the suit, I just feel like I'm carrying a normal backpack," said Hiroi Tsukui, a participant in the project as she carried a young man onto a table to demonstrate to onlookers.

For the moment, the suit, developed by Kanagawa Institute of Technology, is only made to order and is targeted at nursing homes and hospitals. But they do hope it will be in homes in the future.

"Of course 80-year-olds won't be able to wear this. But perhaps for their children who are in their 50s and need to take care of their parents, this could prove to be useful," she added.

Japan has one of the world's lowest birth rates and yet forbids immigration, so they are increasingly turning to robots to take care of rudimentary tasks in hospitals and nursing homes as the young population dwindles down. They are also trying to design suits that the elderly can wear themselves. A "muscle suit" developed by Tokyo University of Science also allows the wearer to lift heavy objects. The half-body suit uses artificial muscles made of elastic rubber and nylon and air pumps for the arms. But that's not quite ready yet.

The suit, which weighs four kilos, presents "some safety concerns for elderly people," he said

It is official. Robots are taking over. You can now wear them.