The San Francisco-based design firm Whipsaw recently introduced the world’s first fully-automated, AI-powered massage robot that can be personalised for each user. This cutting-edge machine features a pair of robotic arms with silicon pads and a vegan leather-bound massage table.
The machine 3D scans the user’s body using four infrared sensors tailoring massage specifically to each individual according to their body analysis. This data is then put into a touch-screen interface to allow the AI system to refine and improve the experience over the time of its usage.
While the designers of the product specified that it is not a replacement for massage therapists but rather a complementary tool linked to the health risks like repetitive strain injuries generally faced by practitioners in this field.
Eric Litman, the founder of Aescape, approached Whipsaw with the prototype of this machine to help create a comfortable product experience. It is perfect for Olympic gymnasts, NBA players, or anyone with different body structures.
“Aescape is much more efficient and sustainable than big groups of massage therapists that need lots of health care due to workplace injury. Using robotics also reduces the commuting environmental factors like vehicle pollution and energy usage,” Aescape stated.
“Using robotics also reduces the commuting environmental factors like vehicle pollution and energy usage.”
Aescape represents a giant leap towards merging sophisticated AI and design in the field of physical therapy. Dan Harden, principal Designer and CEO of Whipsaw shared his aspirations for the product redefining the massage experience for a wide range of users, “Every stroke that the robot is commanded to do has been informed by licensed professional massage therapists, many prototype experiments, and years of robotic research,”
“Furthermore, Aescape employs a formidable amount of AI and machine learning technology, so it is constantly improving and building its database which informs its programming.”
