Categories: Technology

ZoraBots launches humanoid robots powered by IBM’s Watson to help children, elderly

Powered by Softbank Robotics, ZoraBots, a Belgium-based robotics company, launches three smart humanoid robots to tackle healthcare, education, and elderly-care.

“Bots to boost your life” is highlighted as both the Belgian company’s mission and vision. Zorabots currently has three models of humanoid robots: Nao, Pepper, and Billy-Billy.

Nao

Zora Robotic’s flagship solution comes in the form of a white-colored, friendly, interactive robot that stands at just under 58 cm.

This solution is mainly aimed at two demographics, children, and elderly folks. Thanks to a bevy of audio and visual sensors, as well as a myriad of motors that allow it move in natural motion – Nao provides natural interaction scenarios that would help kids learn better, feel better in situations where they need help and even moderate gymnastics exercise sessions for the elderly.

Thanks to a smart software developed by the company’s heads, Fabrice Goffin and Tommy Deblieck – the robot speaks/listens to natural language and performs extra functionality such as scanning QR codes, playing music, while dancing to it.

Pepper

Standing at 1.20 meters tall, Pepper has the world’s strongest supercomputer for a brain, that being IBM’s Watson.

While this bot is fully equipped for natural conversation capabilities, its functionalities target a completely different industry than the ones served by Zora’s Nao.

Pepper was designed with business use in mind, its conversation ability is to be customized and steered towards individual business purposes. The bot is capable of suggesting items to purchase, help customers customize their purchases, based on their previous purchases, also guides visitors around a shop to find their desired items.

Billy-Billy

Probably the strangest and least functional solution of the collection. In short, Billy-Billy is a smart flower pot.

Besides offering a hilarious resemblance to a scene from A night at the museum – this bot essentially serves as a smart sensor for the plant potted inside it, providing users with warnings in case of lack of water, or increase in temperature.

The bot is also capable of notifying its users of upcoming events and even read text messages out loud.

 

Omar Elorfaly

Crazed by modern technology and unexpected experiences around the world, Omar hops on the first ride possible towards random spots, seeking the next thrill.

View Comments

Recent Posts

Meet agentic AI: Your AI agent just leveled up to teammate (Brains Byte Back Podcast)

You’ve probably been coming across the term “agentic AI” a lot more recently, and in…

12 hours ago

True robot intelligence requires a digital twin of the entire world: WEF ‘Summer Davos’ in China

In order to achieve true robot intelligence, a digital twin of the entire world would…

22 hours ago

Sensors to surveil people & cities among WEF top 10 emerging technologies at ‘Summer Davos’

Autonomous Biochemical Sensing can turn human bodies into surveillance tools for monitoring and control, Collaborative…

1 day ago

AI and the Dopamine Trap: How Algorithms Are Rewiring Our Social Cravings

New research shows AI companions can lift mood and teach social skills, but only when…

5 days ago

Hate speech, deepfakes & false info undermine UN work: comms chief

Hate speech is a launching point for crackdowns on narratives that impede UN agendas: perspective…

5 days ago

Making Sense brings strategic insight to the SIM Hartford Chapter

On June 4, technology executives gathered at the SIM Hartford chapter presided over by Fariba…

7 days ago