Kawasaki and Foxconn build robot nursing assistant • The Register
Taiwanese tech manufacturer Foxconn and Japan’s Kawasaki Heavy Industries have revealed a jointly developed robotic nursing assistant they hope to start selling in 2026.
The two companies used an existing Kawasaki social robot design called “Nyokkey” as the basis for the new machine, which they called “Nurabot”.
Sadly, Kawasaki has posted only a small image of Nurabot, but we found a better snap of Nyokkey.
Kawasaki Foxconn Nurabot – Click to enlarge
Kawasaki’s Nyokkey robot – Click to enlarge
Kawasaki says Nurabot has two arms that can grab objects, a luggage compartment, and self-propelling capabilities. The two companies designed it to help nurses with jobs like transporting blood samples or medicines through a hospital, or guiding patients around a hospital. It can also apparently educate patients about hygiene.
Kawasaki has already seen Nyokkey used in nursing homes, infrastructure facilities, and restaurants. Foxconn contributed software development expertise to create Nurabot and helped to conduct trials of the machine at Taiwan’s Taichung Veterans General Hospital.
Taiwan apparently has an acute shortage of nurses and struggles to recruit more, a situation it shares with many other nations. Foxconn and Kawasaki believe bots are the answer and will help healthcare organizations to continue providing appropriate levels of service.
The two companies hope to start selling Nurabot in 2026.
Earlier this week, Kawasaki launched another medical bot, the MC006V, designed to help manufacture pharmaceuticals. The company ensured the bot can survive the chemicals used to sterilize equipment in the clean facilities where medicines are made.
The bot has six-axis freedom of movement, can reach 610mm, and carry up to six kilograms.
Kawasaki’s MC006V robot – Click to enlarge
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