Kawasaki Heavy unveils dog-shaped robot companion for older people

Kawasaki Heavy Industries has unveiled a prototype of a dog-shaped social robot that helps older people with life at home.

Leveraging physical artificial intelligence, the robot, Home Leo, can talk to people, recognize its surroundings, make appropriate decisions according to the situation and act autonomously, according to the Japanese firm.

Home Leo was presented at a business briefing the company held in Tokyo on Tuesday.

The robot will stay close to the older people it lives with, offering companionship through conversation, watching over them and assisting with their daily activities, Kawasaki Heavy said.

By continuously collecting data on users’ personal preferences and daily lives, including food, clothing and housing, Home Leo will be able to have conversations that suit respective users, the firm said.

Aiming to launch Home Leo in fiscal 2028, the company is poised to continue improving the robot while working with the health and industry ministries, local governments, medical and nursing care facilities, and AI technology companies.

Kawasaki Heavy plans to equip Home Leo with functionality to inform family members or nursing care professionals if it notices something unusual about users, such as them having fallen, changes in their health condition or fire hazards left unattended.

The company said it hopes to help elderly people receive appropriate support and extend the period during which they can live safely and securely in familiar surroundings, by sharing data and coordinating with medical institutions, nursing care facilities and other relevant organizations through Home Leo as needed.

Participants at the business briefing were shown how the robot works.

Kawasaki Heavy President Yasuhiko Hashimoto asked Home Leo, “Where did I leave my smartphone?”

Home Leo replied, “It’s on the table, so I’ll go and get it,” and actually picked it up.