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According to Foxconn, the robot can reduce the workload for nurses by 30% or more so they can focus on tasks related to direct care and clinical judgment. The robot took 10 months to develop and was tested during April 2025 at the Taiwan-based Taichung Veterans General Hospital. It is planned for commercial availability in early 2026.
Jointly developed by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, the Nurabot employs the Nyokkey service robot and includes robotic arms, wheels, sensors, and storage for vials and samples. NVIDIA provided the AI platform for the robot to navigate through wards, interact with individuals, and react in different situations. Virtual-hospital training sped up development and AI enables it to perceive, reason, and act in a more human-like way.
The necessity for such technology is rooted in aging demographics: by 2030 the 60-plus age group will increase by 40%, putting further strain on health care systems. Experts point out that while efficiency can be improved by robots, many challenges persist, including hospital infrastructure and design, patient preference for human contact, and the necessity for rigorous safety and data protection measures.
Robots are already present in health care: Singapore’s Changi General Hospital already deploys over 80, and in the US nearly 100 “Moxi” robots are used to transfer supplies and samples. Early trials show Nurabot reduces nurses’ workload by 20–30%. It won't halt the global shortage, but Foxconn remains adamant it can alleviate staff strain and support hospitals as populations age.
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