A robot with expressive eyebrows that can carry out simple tasks and help ease the workload of healthcare staff is being tested at a hospital in Milan. Nicknamed “Alter-Ego,” the 1.2-meter robot can act as a remote doctor’s stand-in, deliver items, or escort patients to treatment areas.
At Maugeri Hospital, 31-year-old patient Daniel Senna reports his pain level via a screen mounted on the robot’s chest. “Hi Dani. How are you? “Do you need anything?” Ego asks the wheelchair user, while instantly relaying the information to nursing staff.
ALS Trial in Hospital Care Unit Since April
The robot has been on trial since April in a hospital unit that cares for patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive neurodegenerative disorder.
“We were initially concerned that patients might respond negatively,” Christian Lunetta, head of the hospital’s neuromotor rehabilitation department, told AFP.
However, those concerns quickly faded. “Patients were pleased, as the robot was designed to spark curiosity and its movements suggest many potential uses,” he said.
Reduce The Burden
The project is a joint effort between the Italian Institute of Technology and the University of Pisa in northern Italy, and it is currently operated remotely by a human controller.
Starting in July, the robot is expected to function independently.
Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have greatly sped up developments in robotics, but robots still require extensive training before they can operate on their own.
The aim of the Milan experiment is to collaborate with patients and caregivers in order to better define the limits of what a robot can or should do in a hospital ward, said Manuel Catalano of the Italian Institute of Technology.
“Alter-Ego” could also, in the future, support patients and their caregivers at home, he said. Lunetta noted that hospitals include many repetitive tasks that could be assigned to a capable robot.
“This would also enable us to place greater value on human beings by freeing up time for them to concentrate on the human relationships they must maintain with patients,” he said.
Nurses observe patients while administering medication, picking up indications of both physical and mental health conditions.
Although “Alter-Ego” may appear capable, neurologist Rachele Piras noted that “no one has considered directly delegating pill administration” to it.
“It can still be useful in other ways, particularly as the neurodegenerative condition advances,” she said.
Patients may feel empowered by being able to make direct requests to the robot, while this could also ease the caregiver’s workload, allowing them to focus more on simply being a companion, mother, or daughter.
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