Japan Engineers Design Robotic Bear to aid in Assisted Suicide

[Mad Madison]

I find this utterly terrifying . . .

Quote

The researchers have been working to develop a robot to assist with patient suicide since 2009. The first version was Robot for HAIRAKUMA which could lift a weight of up to 61kg. The second incarnation, HAIRAKUMA-II, weighs 230kg and can carry a weight of up to 80kg. The HAIRAKUMA-II was recalled immediately from test markets after a glitch in the AI Systems vital sign monitor left the bodies of 12 beta testing patient’s bodies horribly disfigured but still alive. SeppuKuma improves on its predecessors by being lighter and having the smallest base yet.

http://www.iflscience.org/japan-engi...isted-suicide/

[Speaking Mute]

I love the names they gave to the SeppaKuma's finishing moves - "SleepyTime Hug", "Peaceful Breath", "Pillow Kisses". Reminds me of Mortal Kombat...

I did some additional searching about this robot and discovered that the company reprogrammed an existing home-aid robot to create the suicide bear:

http://www.engadget.com/2015/02/26/r...pan-caregiver/

Now just imagine what would happen if a shipment got mixed up.

[bendk]

Some people on Youtube are claiming the suicide bear is a hoax. I suspect that it is due to the wonderful names given the methods. That would be sad. Personally, I love it. I would like to see more options and perhaps an interchangeable countenance, even though I like the bear.

Thanks for posting this.

[Mad Madison]

Quote Originally Posted by bendk

Some people on Youtube are claiming the suicide bear is a hoax. I suspect that it is due to the wonderful names given the methodds.

I suspected as much, but, in all honesty, I'm hardly surprised anymore by some of the things that come out of Japan these days. In fact, I think the last Japanese horror movie I watched was Ringu.

[gveranon]

This is disappointing. I would expect a suicide bear to maul me to death. Well, I guess "suicide bears" like that already exist in the woods.