Image: Horla Pernea
Anyone who’s watched the 1985 Sylvester Stallone classic Rocky IV will probably remember the robot that Rocky brings to his mansion to keep his lonely brother-in-law company.
Well, what was lofty science fiction (in a boxing movie of all places), has now become reality as the Queensland government has invested in robotic assistance to carers and the elderly.
In a $1.3 million disability housing project in Queensland’s Alexandra Hills, the state government will offer new state of the art assistive technology.
Among this high-tech wizardry is a NAO Robot. It’s an autonomous, programmable humanoid robot developed by Aldebaran Robotics, a French robotics company headquartered in Paris.
Seeing it might evoke imagery of C-3PO from Star Wars, Maria from Fritz Lang’s Metropolis or even Robin Williams from the film Bicentennial Man. The image above might even be rather Tron-inspired. The purpose of the NAO Robot is to help future residents live independently.
Disability Services Minister Coralee O’Rourke said the automated NAO Robot will be programmed to provide support with daily routines, to help residents live as independently as possible.
It’s all part of the Queensland government’s Elderly Parent Care Innovation Initiative (EPCII), which was launched in September 2012 as a $15 million one-off capital funding investment.
The EPCII was made available to assist elderly parents to secure sustainable living arrangements for their adult sons or daughters with disability when they are no longer able to care for them.
But a NAO Robot isn’t all these residents are getting. According to Ms O’Rourke, the two homes will incorporate innovative technologies including automated controls for lighting and blinds, remote video monitoring and room temperature and movement sensors, as well as carer calling devices.
Mrs O’Rourke said as part of the EPCII, the purpose built homes would help to address the shortfall in appropriate accommodation for people with disability who lived with ageing parents.
“Investing in these types of projects goes a long way towards giving older parent carers more certainty about the long-term care options for their son or daughter with disability,” she said.
