Editing Robot (section)

==== Home automation for the elderly and disabled ====
{{further|Disability robot}}
[[File:FRIEND-III klein.png|thumb|The Care-Providing Robot FRIEND]]

Robots used in [[Home automation for the elderly and disabled|home automation]] have developed over time from simple basic robotic assistants, such as the [[ST Robotics#History|Handy 1]],<ref name="CSUNCOD1">{{cite journal|last=Topping |first=Mike |author2=Smith, Jane |title=An Overview Of Handy 1, A Rehabilitation Robot For The Severely Disabled |journal=CSUN Center on Disabilities Conference Proceedings |year=1999 |volume=Proceedings |series=1999 |pages=Session 59 |url=http://www.csun.edu/cod/conf/1999/proceedings/session0059.htm |access-date=14 August 2010 |quote=The early version of the Handy 1 system consisted of a Cyber 310 robotic arm with five degrees of freedom plus a gripper. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090805111627/https://www.csun.edu/cod/conf/1999/proceedings/session0059.htm |archive-date= 5 August 2009 }}</ref> through to semi-autonomous robots, such as [[Care-Providing Robot FRIEND|FRIEND]] which can assist the elderly and disabled with common tasks.

The population is [[gerontotechnology|aging]] in many countries, especially Japan, meaning that there are increasing numbers of elderly people to care for, but relatively fewer young people to care for them.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4012797.stm|work=BBC News|first=Christine|last=Jeavans|date=29 November 2004|title=Welcome to the ageing future|access-date=26 September 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071016123948/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4012797.stm|archive-date=16 October 2007|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url        = http://www.stat.go.jp/english/data/handbook/c02cont.htm
| title      = Statistical Handbook of Japan: Chapter 2 Population
| publisher  = Statistics Bureau & Statistical Research and Training Institute
| access-date = 26 September 2007
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130906015841/http://www.stat.go.jp/english/data/handbook/c02cont.htm
| archive-date = 6 September 2013
| url-status = dead
}}</ref> Humans make the best carers, but where they are unavailable, robots are gradually being introduced.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.e-health-insider.com/comment_and_analysis/250/robotic_future_of_patient_care|publisher=E-Health Insider|title=Robotic future of patient care|date=16 August 2007|access-date=26 September 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071121041811/http://www.e-health-insider.com/comment_and_analysis/250/robotic_future_of_patient_care|archive-date=21 November 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>

FRIEND is a semi-autonomous robot designed to support [[disability|disabled]] and [[old age|elderly]] people in their daily life activities, like preparing and serving a meal. FRIEND make it possible for [[patients]] who are [[paraplegia|paraplegic]], have muscle diseases or serious [[paralysis]] (due to strokes etc.), to perform tasks without help from other people like therapists or nursing staff.