Engineers at the University of Waterloo have developed a robot, equipped with “artificial memory,” designed to assist individuals, particularly those with dementia, in locating misplaced items like medicine and phones. This innovative technology responds to the growing prevalence of dementia, a condition that impairs memory and cognitive function, often leading to the frequent misplacement of everyday objects, thereby heightening the burden on caregivers. The robot, named Fetch, utilizes artificial intelligence to maintain an episodic memory, allowing it to detect, track, and log the locations of specific items using an object-detection algorithm. This memory log records when and where objects enter or exit its camera view. Users can select items to be monitored through a user-friendly interface and subsequently receive notifications via a smartphone app or computer about the last observed location of the items. While the system has shown high accuracy in tests, its complexity may be challenging for some users with dementia; however, caregivers can easily utilize the technology. Future research will involve user studies with both people without disabilities and those with dementia, aiming to enhance user independence and improve quality of life.
