April 14, 2010
Hanako: The Dental Patient Simulator
The three Japanese universities Waseda, Kogakuin and Showa, and robot maker Tmsuk have developed Hanako, a robotic dental patient who can behave like a human patient. This female robot can converse with doctors (“Please examine me!”, “That hurts!” etc.), discharge robotic saliva, sneeze, open and close her mouth, etc.
Tmsuk designed Hanako’s body, while the “medical features” were developed by the dental faculties of the universities involved in the development of the robot. Hanako stands 157cm tall and has nine joints in her body (jaw, tongue, eyelids etc.). Hanako reacts to mistakes by verbally expressing pain, rolling her eyes or even simulating a vomiting reflex, thanks to the touch sensors in her mouth.
The main goal is to offer dentists or dental students a way to practice “real-life” procedures on a robot before taking care of human patients (at Showa University, dental students actually have to take tests using Hanako).
Click here to read more about Hanako.
Written by: John
Filed Under: Robotics
Tags: Dental Patient, Dental Students, Dentists, Doctors, Eyelids, Faculties, Female Robot, Human Patient, Human Patients, Japanese Universities, Joints, Kogakuin, Main Goal, Medical Features, Patient Simulator, Reflex, Saliva, Showa, Tongue, Touch Sensors
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