Now, robot that cares for you round the clock

A woman in Rome is enjoying 24-hour care courtesy her live-in android.

The android has been named "Mr. Robin" by her.

The machine consists of a tablet screen attached to a mobile unit, which is remotely connected to sensors around 94-year-old author Lea Mina Ralli's home that monitor her vital signs and activity.

This device feeds the data to the carers who visit her regularly and signals them in a case of emergencies like a bad fall or elevated blood pressure, CNN reported.

The Italian is just one of six people who are participating in the ground-breaking trial of the GiraffPlus system - an EU-funded project which is trying to bring robots into the homes of the elderly and infirm - ahead of the commercial launch in 2015.

Accompany's Care-o-bot 3 design are currently undergoing a final trial with elderly subjects in smart homes, in which they provide many services, ranging from carrying items and opening doors, to monitoring the subject and recommending activities for them like exercise or drinking water.