WAO-1: Face massage robot

Equipped with two 20-inch arms that protrude from a chair-sized aluminum box, WAO-1 performs massages by pressing the patient's face from both sides. Each arm's position and angle can be precisely controlled, as can the direction of the pressure applied to the face. WAO-1 also relies on a complex system of software and fuses to ensure the pressure does not exceed a certain level, and it is equipped with a "torque limiter function" that allows the arms to bend back should the robot begin to exert too much force. [Uh huh.]

While the parts for the prototype cost about $70,000, Takanishi says the robot is cost-effective because it can be used to massage other body parts [Uh huh.] and perform other tasks like hold a patient's mouth open during treatment. [Uh huh.]

Facial massage, which is known to combat dry mouth because it stimulates salivation, is used in the treatment of various mouth and jaw disorders. An estimated 10 million people in Japan are believed to suffer from oral conditions such as dry mouth [...]