Apple Watches offer health-tracking features, including heart rhythm measurements through ECG (typically measured by attaching several electrodes) and Peripheral oxygen saturation of the blood (SpO₂) (typically measured at a fingertip using a pulse oximeter). This is not classified as medical-grade, and has very limited accuracy or reliability (see here for SpO2, here or here). It may even be annoying if it tells people they may have a problem when there is no actual concern or, in rare cases, it could be dangerous if it falsely gives people a sense of security, for example by reporting a fairly normal level of oxygen while in fact your oxygen is too low.

Abbott provides continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) with their FreeStyle Libre 2 and 3 systems. A specific sensor is attached to the body for a period of about 2 weeks and it connects with either a smartphone or a handheld display. This replaces the typical blood glucose monitoring devices that include use of a lancet to prick your finger, such as here.

Omron makes blood pressure measurement devices that rely on cuff-based designs that automatically pressurize and measure at set intervals. These are used mostly to watch out for hypertension, which is a big health risk. Wrist-cuff devices are expected to cause less discomfort and muscle compression than traditional upper arm cuffs. These are fairly reliable (here).

Withings sells beautiful watches with a range of health sensors for ECG (“detect a potential cardiac anomaly and get a cardiovascular assessment in 30 seconds”), blood oxygen levels and body temperature. They also sell arm-cuff-based systems that combine BP, ECG and stethoscope (here). As a side note, they also have a good sleep analyzer in the form of a thin strip under a mattress.

iHealthLabs has several devices like the iHealth Push Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor, and the iHealth Air Pulse Oximeter, and their fancy scale, the iHealth Nexus Pro Wireless Body Composition Scale that can do an ECG as well. Not really wearables, but nice stuff.

BioIntelliSense has an FDA-cleared BioButton monitors temperature and heart rate and respiration, both at rest.

BioSensics has a device that measures Upper Limb health, called PamSys ULM.

A special place within the Graveyard of Robots should be reserved for all those well meaning creatures that were made to help provide healthcare to all those in need, the Healthcare Robots, may they rest in peace.

Keepon (now by BeatBots)

A famous paper about Keepon. It was designed to help kids with autism and appeared to be doing something right.

Here is the website of BeatBots. Keepon was downgraded in their tenure into nothingness I believe.

Riba II and Robear by RIKEN

Riba I en II were followed by Robear, but I think that one was also last seen around 2015, see here.

The design of the robot looks quite interesting. It is focused on lifting or sustaining the weight of people during transfers. So for examples, lifting somebody from a bed to a wheelchair, or from a chair to an upright position and then to a wheelchair. Such transfers are very frequent and important parts of daily healthcare for many people. And theer is already technology in place to helpt with such transfers, such as hoists, stand aids, transfer boards or slide sheets. See, for some examples here. The specific transfer scenario that Robear is demonstrating is typically done with a lifting system like below:

Looking closer at this exact scenario it is clear to me that Robear lacks good gripping points. It does not have a way to grip the hands or arms and it does not offer something for the human to grip with their hands. So, Robear needs to wrap its hands all the way around the body, which is usually done by some kind of sling.

In any case, I have not found more recent examples of Robear actually in use anywhere.

Care-o-Bot 1-4 by Fraunhofer

Care-oBot was or is a very well known healthcare robot. It featured in quite a few research projects. And the presentation video of Care-o-Bot 4 was unforgettable:

So, is this slick and smooth robot dandy actually in use anywhere at the moment? Well, I found this video from 2021 that shows a modified version working for that enormously important function that is such a bottleneck in healthcare: bringing water to patients.

There is a support page where you can find contact info if you want to know more.

All in all Care-o-Bot is a very typical example of a very expensive robot, requiring a specific environment (no barriers, room to maneuver) that can essentially do nothing useful really. In many hospitals water and drinks are brought by volunteers or (pre-)pensioners who also provide a social function. There is no point in replacing them with a robot.

At the same time I understand that the basic problems of navigating and staying out of people’s way need to be solved and this requires effort as well. Still, it may be the case that those problems will be solved in very different ways. Think, for example, of robots following service lines.

I am not aware of Care-o-Bot actually in use anywhere at the moment.

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust
So will the iron, return to rust
Ideas will linger or slowly disperse
Promising things turn out for the worst

Asimo 2000-2022

Asimo was one of the greatest robots ever designed and built. Honda was the company that created Asimo. Its main job, in my opinion was to entertain people and create attention and PR for Honda, as well as partners such as Disneyworld. Asimo was retired in 2022.

Romeo by Aldebaran

Romeo was supposed to be the next generation from Aldebaran, after Nao and Pepper. The research project was however stopped before its completion.

Aibo by Sony

Astro for business by Amazon