Japanese Hair Washing Robot

Japanese giant Panasonic has come up with a robot that can wash and blow dry hair. The product due for release next year is aimed to help the elderly population in Japan, and is seen as being a great aid to the rapidly increasing ageing population.

The washing robot can replicate the dexterous touch of a human hand and Panasonic believes the robot could help replace human care-givers in Japan.

The robot has 24 robotic fingers and 2 motorised arms, and shampoos, massages the scalp and rinses in about three minutes. Conditioning and a blow-dry add another five minutes to the process. Panasonic hopes to export the robot to other ageing societies such as South Korea and China, in the future.