Using AI and Robots to Support Health and Realize Dreams

One groundbreaker in the healthtech field is Kubota Naoyuki, professor at the Intelligent Robotics Laboratory at Tokyo Metropolitan University's Graduate School of Systems Design, who spoke with us about his lab's Moonshot R&D Program research projects, in particular the Living Lab, recently exhibited at the SusHi Tech Tokyo 2024 Showcase Program.

An Interactive, AI-Integrated Lab on Wheels

The Living Lab is housed in a sleek trailer, which allows it to be what Kubota calls a "UX (user experience) delivery service," bringing the lab and insights directly to hospitals, care facilities and more remote areas. 

As soon as someone enters the space, their height and weight are registered, and their movements and muscle reactions are logged using state of the art AI technology. "Knowing what you can and cannot do is extremely important," says Kubota. "Many accidents and injuries are caused by people not understanding their current limits. Through our technology and services, we want people to understand what they can currently do, and what changes or additional support can be added so that they can live the life that they want and truly enjoy themselves, no matter their age or physical issues."

The tests within the Living Lab designed by Kubota and his team are gamified to make them more interesting for participants, and are designed to check both physical and cognitive functions at micro, meso and macro levels. What appears to be a simple puzzle game can also measure the participants' hand-eye coordination, functionality of their non-dominant hand, fine motor skills and eye-tracking. 

In addition to tests, the space is also a showcase of various types of healthtech-related technology that can be used to improve the user's life. Researchers, and potentially future caregivers, can see the difference and improvement in participants by comparing data from before and after use. 

"We want the Living Lab to function as a type of 'internship' for seniors, to check their physical abilities and mental acuity before taking on new challenges or dreams," says Kubota. "The work of assistant professor Obo Takenori is particularly exciting, particularly for cases of patients recovering from a major medical event like a stroke.  Combining VR into the mix for visualizing and trying out movements can help people become more positive about working toward full rehabilitation or make them more confident when learning new skills." 

Creating a Smarter Inclusive Society

Beyond the Living Lab, Kubota and the 32 members of the Intelligent Robotics Laboratory have many projects in the works, all aiming at using AI and intelligent robots in a way that supports and enhances people's lives.

"In the case of AI, our aim is to create programs that are like a truly good coach: one who encourages you to think and arrive at answers yourself, rather than just waiting for directions or orders. The ultimate goal is to have AI solutions that render the program itself unnecessary." 

Some projects in the works include a smartphone-based game where users can grow digital flowers by increasing daily movement, and role-playing games where daily tasks such as cleaning or walking allow players to "level up," which aims at getting grandparents and grandchildren to play together to each of their individual strengths. 

On the robotics side, one exciting potential use is developing technology that allows users to overcome the limits caused by infrastructure, such as smart robotic exoskeletons. These advances could also potentially allow athletes both with and without disabilities to compete in the same categories at major sports events like the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Importance of Sharing Knowledge and Potential Solutions

Although the Living Lab was created with elderly people and those recovering from accidents or medical issues in mind, during the exhibition at the SusHi Tech Tokyo 2024 Showcase Program the lab was open to children, who enjoyed playing an escape room game. "It was interesting to see how the children were very comfortable with digital devices, which is a big difference from my generation, when we were not allowed to touch equipment for fear of breaking something!" the professor said with a laugh.

Besides introducing their projects to the public, Kubota mentions how important events like SusHi Tech are for companies and researchers. "I have participated in these showcases both on the research side and the startup/venture side. They are great opportunities to look into and study the issues we are facing and come across ideas for potential solutions." 

"The challenges we face are great and our times volatile and uncertain, so it is best to come together to share our findings, as something very different from past successes may actually be the answer."

Kubota notes that with all the challenges the world is facing, particularly in the healthtech sphere, it is difficult to predict what technology and solutions will not only work but also be needed in the future. "The best way to reach our goals is by a combination of forecasting, or using the resources we already have to create solutions, and backcasting, imagining the future and working to create new technology to fit with that ideal." 

Kubota Naoyuki

Professor at the Department of Mechanical Systems Engineering, Graduate School of Systems Design, Tokyo Metropolitan University.  Director of the Research Center for Community Centric Systems. Chairman of the Tokyo Biomarker Innovation Research Association. He received his Ph.D. in Engineering from Nagoya University. In addition to research and development connected to computational intelligence and intelligent robots, he also conducts R&D focused on making robots more intelligent so they can be implemented in society in a variety of fields, including senior and rehabilitation support.

SusHi Tech Tokyo, short for Sustainable High City Tech Tokyo, is a Tokyo-based concept that aims to create sustainable new value by overcoming global urban challenges through cutting-edge technology, diverse ideas, and digital expertise.
https://www.sushi-tech-tokyo2024.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/