Anthony Nunez (AIT '06) always liked taking things apart when he was a child, but he says he didn't always put them back together. His interest in how things work led him first to the Volgenau School of Engineering and then to the field of robotics. Today he is the founder and CEO of INF, Inc. and Infamous Robotics, LLC.
In a lab on the second floor of the Nguyen Engineering Building, Nunez and his team are developing a robot with the technology that can perform household tasks for senior citizens. With robots in their living space, seniors can stay in their homes and have a round-the-clock attendant on site. It comes as no surprise to Nunez that according to an AARP survey 9 out of 10 seniors would prefer to live in their own homes.
"I was very close to my grandmother," said Nunez. "She moved in with us when it was no longer safe for her to live in her own home. I saw her age and I also saw the stress and extra work my mother took on because she was the primary care-giver." These experiences led Nunez to begin work on his solution–Rudy the Robot.
From its inception Nunez designed Rudy with seniors in mind. "We're not taking existing technology and retro-fitting," said Nunez. Instead, he and his team have consulted with seniors to invent a device that is safe, easy, and approachable. They expect to have a Beta model ready to launch in early 2015.
The robot will be equipped with telecommunications capabilities so doctors and family members can check in remotely with patients and loved ones. It will also have the ability to move around the home and perform simple tasks for tolder adults.
Rudy will cost less than $5,000 to purchase and the first models will be marketed in the mid-Atlantic region. Because an estimated 98 million seniors live in this geographic location, Nunez believes there is a market for Rudy.