The population of Japan is ageing, and
fewer children being born. This creates a variety of problems -- not the least of which is a shortage of caregivers for the elderly, as the elderly population grows while the younger population shrinks. To help compensate, the country has been exploring a different solution: robots.
In the case of research institute RIKEN, cuddly teddy bear-faced robots that can lift and carry a mobility impaired patient, or help them stand and provide a support to lean on while walking.
ROBEAR is actually the third iteration of the bear-faced bots, the first and second of which were named
RIBA and
RIBA-II respectively -- although none have arrived on the market yet.