OITA -- A graduate student here has been developing an "inconvenient robot" that is selfish and whose battery cannot be charged at home to encourage elderly people to go out more.

The communication robot, equipped with artificial intelligence (AI), says things like, "I love going for walks," and "Shall we go for a walk together?"

The student's inspiration came from regrets over not having been able to spend more time with her late grandmother in her final years.

The developer is Miyu Fujisawa, 22, a first-year doctoral student at Oita University's Graduate School of Science and Technology. The robot is named "SPRO," which stands for "Selfish Pretty Robot."

The motif for its appearance is a long-tailed tit, a wild bird widely found in Hokkaido, known as the "snow fairy." SPRO is palm-sized and weighs about 200 grams, making it easy to carry. The robot is equipped with AI that can discern emotions from the human voice, and its facial expressions and speech change based on the conversation content and battery level. It can be used without an internet connection.

Its most distinctive feature is that it cannot be charged at home. Instead, dedicated wireless chargers will be installed at places like supermarkets and community centers, providing an incentive for the elderly to venture out.

The design concept is rooted in Fujisawa's experience with her grandmother, who passed away when she was in her second year of junior high school. As a child, Fujisawa visited her grandmother's home nearby almost daily, but as she became busy with club activities in junior high school, visits became less frequent. She later learned that her grandmother had fewer opportunities to go out in her final years, leading to her physical decline. "I wish I had gone out with her more often," said Fujisawa.

Developing a second unit through crowdfunding

Having always enjoyed creating things, she began developing the inconvenient robot upon entering university and completed a prototype in her fourth year. Now, she aims to strengthen the safety and functionality of a second unit to test its effectiveness in encouraging outings. To achieve this, she is conducting a crowdfunding campaign with a target of 1 million yen (about $6,400) at https://readyfor.jp/projects/167156 (in Japanese).

"I would be happy if fewer people experienced the same regrets as I did. I hope the robot will be seen as a companion to go out with, like a grandchild," Fujisawa commented. Her journey with SPRO continues, driven by her heartfelt intentions.

(Japanese original by Taiki Yamaguchi, Oita Bureau)