Toshiba prototypes 'life-support' robots

Toshiba has developed two robots which "approach the concept of a life support partner."

One of the new robots, ApriAttenda, recognizes a registered individual and follows him or her from place to place, even among groups of people.

The wheeled robot can calculate the person's position from a real-life landscape of fixed objects and moving people, while recognizing the registered color and texture of the person's clothes.

Even if the robot loses visual contract, it can find the person by raising a voice and reconnect with the individual.

The other robot, called "Apri sharp ear", is equipped with six microphones and can distinguish particular voices simultaneously coming from as many people from multiple directions. The 43 cm tall robot then interacts with the speakers by responding to a repertoire of commands.

Toshiba plans to introduce such robots for home use on a commercial basis in five to six years.

Via Yahoo News. Pictures from Kyodo news.