Robotics X Lab
Xiao Wu,
a much-needed breakthrough
in eldercare robotics
Tencent’s Robotics X Lab is out with Xiao Wu,
a much-needed breakthrough
in eldercare robotics.
Robotics X Lab (Shenzhen, China (founded 2018)) introduced its newest service robot named “Xiao Wu” (translating from Mandarin as “The Five”). See video below. Xiao Wu retains the obstacle-crossing ability of legged robots and the efficiency of wheeled robots, allowing the robot to move faster on flat surfaces.
Chalk one up for the elderly and others in need of mobility assistance. See our ongoing series on assistive eldercare robots titled Don’t Get Old. Robotics X Lab is to be lauded for developing a service robot with great promise for being a superb eldercare assistant. In a world going quickly grey by the millions annually, while also showing a demographic decline in workers (think, eldercare workers), Xiao Wu is a welcomed vanguard hopefully for many more like it in the very near future.
Acute need for assistive eldercare
There’s an acute need for eldercare robots like Xiao Wu, and it’s growing exponentially. “Globally, the number of persons aged 80 or over is projected to triple by 2050, from 137 million in 2017 to 425 million in 2050. By 2100 it is expected to increase to 909 million, nearly seven times its value in 2017.” That’s nearly a billion people over 80!
Driven by a shortage of caregivers and the rising cost of caring for the elderly, the eldercare robot market was valued at $2.53 billion (2023) and is projected to more than triple in size to $8 billion by 2033.
Xiao Wu is designed to be an assistant in the home, capable of walking and moving objects, and providing mobility assistance to the elderly and others, in what X Lab calls “human-living environments”. As the latest generation of robots from Robotics X Lab, The Five or Xiao Wu integrates the core capabilities developed from previous generations of robots.
A subsidiary of Tencent (Shenzhen, China) founded 1998)) Robotics X Labs is, according to its website, committed “to innovative robotic technology, demonstrating a practical solution for enhancing quality of life through advanced robotics.”
Assistive capabilities
One of Xiao Wu’s significant features is its ability to provide assistance to elderly individuals. Equipped with a high-resolution tactile system, Xiao Wu can safely and in comfort hold and support elderly users, in offering personalized assistance and transportation.
Robotics X Lab adopted a hybrid quadruped wheel-foot design for Xiao Wu, which revolutionizes traditional robot mobility concepts. The hybrid structure allows Xiao Wu to move across flat surfaces while maintaining adaptability to uneven terrains. This versatile mobility makes Xiao Wu highly effective in residential and nursing home environments, and capable of navigating complex spaces without any trouble.
Features
Xiao Wu’s movement capabilities are supported by an intelligent control system that utilizes high-frequency, low-latency simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) technology. By using sensors such as LiDAR (laser to measure distances and create 3D models) and IMU (allows a GPS receiver to work when GPS-signals are unavailable), Xiao Wu can perceive its environment in real time, allowing it to accurately locate itself and navigate around dynamic and static obstacles. This system ensures efficient autonomous movement, whether with household tasks or responding to emergency situations.
The robot also integrates advanced multimodal human-robot interaction technology, enabling it to understand and predict human needs more effectively than previous models. Xiao Wu analyzes a person’s physical condition and movements, ensuring that its help is both safe and effective. For instance, when assisting an elderly person in standing up, Xiao Wu considers the individual’s physical capabilities and movement characteristics, ensuring support is offered without adding strain.
Designed with user convenience in mind, Xiao Wu can autonomously fold and unfold, reducing storage space requirements when not in use. This design feature allows it to fit seamlessly into a variety of environments, ensuring Xiao Wu remains a flexible and practical working partner at home.
Additionally, an X Lab-developed dual-encoder actuator increases Xiao Wu’s overall strength, while its large curved tactile skin allows for a more sensitive response to changes in its surroundings.
Xiao Wu also features an advanced unified control framework, allowing it to adapt to various terrains and complete diverse tasks. The control framework combines high-precision visual perception, environmental sensing, and adaptive, whole-body motion control to provide agile mobility and dexterous operational capabilities. On flat surfaces, Xiao Wu utilizes its wheel mode for faster movement, while on uneven terrain, it switches to a legged mode for better stability and control. This versatility enables Xiao Wu to handle complex household tasks, such as helping retrieve objects from high places or navigating stairs.
The robot’s ability to autonomously adjust its leg configuration is similar to a car’s active suspension system, providing stability on various surfaces. Xiao Wu uses adaptive impedance control and a whole-body motion control algorithm to adjust to different terrains, ensuring smooth movement. The adaptive friction compensation mechanism in its joint control module further enhances the accuracy and stability of force control.
Xiao Wu’s ability to safely interact with humans is made possible by its tactile and visual perception systems, which recognize human behavior and predict movement needs. When providing support, Xiao Wu’s control model takes into account factors like an elderly person’s movement range, physical condition, and Xiao Wu’s load distribution capabilities. This makes the robot more attuned to individual needs, ensuring that assistance is tailored to each user.
X Lab says Xiao Wu sets a new benchmark for assistive robots in the smart home industry. By combining sophisticated mobility, human-centric support capabilities, and seamless interaction, Xiao Wu presents a vision of robots becoming essential companions in daily life. Its ability to provide practical assistance, particularly for the elderly, illustrates how intelligent robots can enhance safety, independence, and quality of life for those in need.
