10 Cutting-Edge Robots For Health Care And Home

Creative Technology, Hanyang, Labrador, SoftBank and Roborock were among the robot makers of note.

A flying air purifier, an autonomous snowplow and a delivery robot for senior living facilities were among the more unusual robots seen hovering and moving about the exhibit floors of CES 2022.

These devices from Creative Technology, Hanyang Technology and Labrador captured CRN’s attention in the sensory overload of the floors at multiple resorts on the Las Vegas Strip.

This year’s Consumer Electronics Show was held in person and online to accommodate growing concern over new variants of COVID-19. Major tech companies including Hewlett-Packard, Amazon and Microsoft dropped out of in-person exhibits at the trade show this year.

Here are 10 robots we’ll be talking about this year when it comes to health care, cleaning and the environment.

Whill Autonomous Mobility Service

Japanese company Whill brought the autonomous model of its mobility device for people with difficulty walking.

The model, on the right, has stereo camera sensors and a customer interface tablet on the device’s arm, according to the company. The interface allows users to maneuver any environment. An operation portal gives staff real-time visuals of where the device is and the job it is executing.

The device has a seat belt, a push handle and space in the back for baggage storage, according to Whill. The device will automatically drive back to designated locations.

Whill’s autonomous solution is aimed at hospitals, malls, convention centers, assisted living facilities, museums and other environments, according to the company.

Founded in 2010, the company has raised about $87.2 million in funding, according to Crunchbase.

Massage Robotics Alex

A two-armed massage robot from Massage Robotics received attendees on the CES 2022 showfloor.

Based in Aliso Viejo, Calif., Massage Robotics expects to release production ready units by the second quarter, according to the company. The company has an application that allows users to customize routines for the robot.

The robot is aimed at spas and resorts, according to the company.

Massage Robotics was founded in 2016, according to Crunchbase.

Ataraina Flying Magic Cleaner

A flying air purifier – a lightweight air cleaning drone that collects dust and pollen inside homes – took flight during CES 2022. The drone comes from Ataraina, a consumer brand trademarked by Japan-based Creative Technology Corp.

The drone has a distance sensor and stereo camera that enable automatic take off and obstacle avoidance, according to the company. The drone’s prototype is in development.

Ataraina also sells scented portable air purifiers, according to the company.

Smarty Pear Leo’s Loo Too

Representatives from Smarty Pear, a portfolio company of PurLife Brands, brought its Leo’s Loo Too application-connected, virtual assistant-enabled self-cleaning litter box to Las Vegas this week.

Palo Alto, Calif.-based Smarty Pear offers a litter box that works with Alexa and Google Assistant, according to the company. The litter box connects to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, providing monitor and control to cat owners. They even receive detailed activity reports on number of visits, cat weight and other measures captured through radar and sensors.

The Leo’s Loo Too comes with 10 bags and filters. It comes in gray, pink, blue and green. It cleans in about a minute and promises no spill, according to the company. It also uses ultraviolet sterilization for bacteria, viruses and parasites.

Roborock S7+ Vacuum

Chinese robotic devices company Roborock brought its S7+ robot vacuum and sonic mop and auto-empty dock to CES 2022.

The S7+ can store up to 60 days of dust, detects carpet and works with Amazon Alexa, according to the company. The sonic floor mopping technology scrubs up to 3,000 times a minute. When carpet is detected, the mop lifts to avoid getting it wet.

The dock can go eight weeks without emptying, according to the company.

Cradlewise Smart Crib

San Francisco-based Cradlewise was a CES 2022 Innovation Awards Honoree for its self-learning smart crib meant to help babies ages 0 to 2 fall asleep.

The smart crib senses babies wake up and then quietly bounces while playing curated music, according to the company. It stops when babies fall asleep. Parents can also use phones to monitor their baby, receive real-time updates and track their sleep. The crib has a night-vision camera.

The company has raised $7 million and was founded in 2019, according to Crunchbase.

Labrador Retriever

Labrador Systems’ Retriever robot uses 3D vision and obstacle sensors to navigate rooms in users’ households, senior living communities and health care systems. The company plans to be in full production by the second half of 2023.

The Calabasas, Calif.-based company’s robot can self-adjust between 25 and 38 inches in height and is programmed with a map of users’ environments and key stop locations such as refrigerators and the bed. The Retriever can carry 25 pounds and runs for about a day on a single charge.

Users can control the robot through smartphones and tablets with Labrador’s application, voice-enabled devices such as Amazon Echo and a Bluetooth wireless button, according to the company. The robot can’t go up and down stairs.

During CES, the company announced an additional $3.1 million in seed funding cp-led by Amazon‘s Alexa Fund and iRobot Ventures.

The company was founded in 2017, according to Crunchbase.

Snobot S1

Chinese technology company Hanyang Technology designed and developed the Snobot S1 autonomous snow blower on display at CES 2022 this year.

The blower is powered with a lithium-ion battery and beacons. It operates in as low as -20 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the company. The robot runs on smooth, flat driveways, sidewalks and yards. It weighs about 143 pounds.

Users can control the Snobot with a remote controller with joysticks and the Snowbot application. The application allows users to set cleaning plans and area plus the throwing direction. Snobot can throw between two and 12 feet, according to the company. Snobot can clean an area of about 1,500 square feet and five inches deep of snow.

Lilee Systems Autonomous Solution

San Jose-based Lilee Systems offers an autonomous driving solution that promises to turn newly purchased electric vehicles or existing diesel and compressed natural gas (CNG) buses into connected level four autonomous vehicles.

The company developed the solution from its communication-based train control for railroad systems, according to Lilee. The solution uses artificial intelligence, an edge computing platform, light detection and ranging (lidar), live telematics and other technologies.

Taiwan’s transportation ministry uses Lilee’s autonomous rapid transit system, according to the company.

The company was founded in 2009, according to Crunchbase.

Whiz Gambit

The Whiz Gambit is a collaboration between Hong Kong-based Avalon SteriTech and France-based SoftBank Robotics to integrate bio-decontamination capabilities into the Whiz autonomous cleaning robot.

The robot comes with artificial intelligence for route design and obstacle avoidance, according to the companies. It vacuums and disinfects. It has a dry-mist spray technology with a nozzle and pump that generates less than 10-micron disinfectant particles.

The Whiz Gambit can cover up to 5,400 square feet on a single charge. It weighs about 52 pounds and can clean in the dark, according to the companies. It can vacuum objects about an inch big. Battery lasts about three hours.