Like R2D2, the helpful, squat robot that came to the aid of the heroes in Star Wars, seniors who grew up enjoying that franchise can have their equivalent robotic assistant.
AIDEN is a helpful robot that delivers food to silvers in the senior group homes (SGH) at Mei Ling.
AIDEN was launched on 13 October at Block 151 Mei Ling Street.
The launch was hosted by Lions Befrienders at their Mei Ling AAC.
The Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) is the result of a collaboration between Lions Befrienders (LB), a volunteer welfare organisation that assists with ageing seniors in Singapore, and Delta Electronics Singapore, a developer of sustainable and innovative energy solutions.
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AIDEN can deliver food to the doorsteps of seniors
Accompanied by cute blinks, this unaccompanied AMR can take the lifts in the rental flats and deliver food to the doorstep of the senior occupants.
The robot is programmed to scan the buttons on the lift panel and press the required one.
AIDEN also moves out of the way when its wide-angle camera senses an obstacle or oncoming people, whether they are walking or on mobility aids.
AIDEN can also assist with check-ins for the residents in the SGH. Apart from the tablets placed in the SGH flats for remote check-ins, also known as the IM-OK device, AIDEN can initiate a check-in through its teleconferencing features.
The main function of AIDEN now is to focus on manual tasks, such as the delivery of food.
AIDEN can make multiple deliveries in one trip due to its secure storage compartments. The delivery process is completed when the resident scans a QR code on AIDEN, to collect their food.
Together with its teleconferencing features, AIDEN frees up the full-time staff to focus on face-to-face interactions and activities with the residents.
AIDEN can deliver food to the doorsteps of seniors
With the growing number of seniors, the likes of AIDEN will be a more regular sight.
She adds that the residents want AIDEN to be more responsive to information or queries.
By delivering meals, medicine and laundry to residents, AIDEN saves 44 hours of manual labour a month, explains Karen Wee, Executive Director of Lions Befrienders (LB).
This allows for more time for staff at LB to focus more on face-to-face activities with the seniors.
AIDEN is currently only deployed at one SGH flat. The next phase will see it operating across blocks within a neighbourhood.
While AIDEN may be seen as a big step in the right direction in managing the basic needs of an ageing population, it could also result in the elderly feeling ostracised and result in less social interaction. Could AIDEN be programmed to do more?
