Tandy Trower retired earlier this year as Microsoft VP and founder of MS Robotics Studio. Recently he launched Hoaloha Robotics.

Today Hoaloha Robotics and Robosoft (the French provider of high-end mobile and service robots) announced a collaboration to develop and bring to market an assistive care robot to empower disabled and elderly individuals to live more independently with the use of their new robot.

Martin Hägele, Chairman of the IFR Service Robot Group, commenting on robots as home companions or assisting the disabled or elderly: “Even though these robot companions or assistants have the prospect of appealing to a mass market, it is felt that the required technological progress, attractive product designs and low-cost manufacturing pose significant challenges and may make this idea more of a long-term project that will not reach full maturity before the year 2020.”