Dennis Ledenkof is the CEO and founder of roboSculptor the roboSculptor, an autonomous platform for body treatments developed by health industry experts and powered by AI. It ideally fits the longevity concept and delivers precise, safe, and comfortable touchless wellness treatments.
Can you share the journey that led you to create roboSculptor?
I came up with the idea to build a robotic body therapy system in 2019 during my trip to the US. I was looking for a distributor for an aesthetics device. While the potential partner liked the results, the procedure was too time-consuming and required highly skilled labor, making the unit economics unclear. The procedure took an hour and was physically demanding, with such specialists being hard to find. During that trip, I did not get a distributor, but I got valuable advice. To invent something that does not require human power.
It took my team nine months to make a demo that showcased the concept of a robotic massage. At first, we wanted to develop a product that simply combined the classic shape of a body contouring device with a cobot. You know, just on top of it. It seemed like an easy-to-implement idea.
1st iteration of adding a robot to a traditional aesthetic device. Scheme.
However, as we delved deeper into the project, we realized our initial vision didn't align with the intricate demands of the system we were building. We underestimated the complexity of the venture.
The next iteration of the system got a tunnel-like shape.
Early version of roboSculptor – portal-like shape.
It has been exhibited in some trade shows as a concept. The feedback was that the machine appeared quite massive and, to some, even intimidating. During additional robot movement tests, our engineers found that the system wasn’t rigid enough to perform massage movements at higher speeds. After collecting all this information the engineers started to work on a new structure. It was a challenging task to build it. Still, it resulted in a different, more open and friendly design.
The actual roboSculptor design.
How has your experience with previous ventures influenced the development of roboSculptor?
Working in the aesthetics market for over a decade gives you a solid understanding of where trends tend to shift, you start to learn more about the companies and what products they build. But most importantly, you learn to see the gaps between what the market needs and what other players do.
With experience in implementing body contouring devices, our company set out to develop a robotic system capable of delivering a full-body therapeutic massage based on lymphatic drainage. The Vibrocompression by spheres method goes beyond mere relaxation—it's a scientifically proven technique for reducing body volume and improving skin oxygenation, achieved solely through mechanical application. No laser or electromagnetic emission. Pretty natural and healthy although very efficient treatment. All we do is just combine decades of experience and research with currently available tech and robotic instruments.
How does roboSculptor utilize AI and robotics to personalize massage techniques?
Our engineers discovered that building a robotic machine for body treatment requires a system capable of translating the position of a physical body into signals the machine can understand. Simply put, we needed to create a digital map of the human body to guide a robotic manipulator. This is a significant challenge, but an even bigger one is the need to constantly track the patient’s position—known as dynamic pose detection—because humans can move unexpectedly. And most people wouldn't want a massage in a spot where their leg was just a few seconds ago.
To solve this, we developed a system using four lidars that create a point cloud, which is combined with a 3D model of the human body and constantly updated. This map then guides the robot over the body’s surface. Building this map correctly requires analyzing a significant amount of data. To accurately detect the pose, we have created an AI/ML model that optimizes pose detection. Our system can now map the body at a speed of 5-10 frames per second and provide the robot with proper commands to execute massage protocols.
How does roboSculptor incorporate feedback from users and therapists to refine its algorithms?
When it comes to massage therapy, there has always been a certain level of subjectivity around what is effective. For instance, what pressure level is required to perform an efficient procedure? A robotic massage system gives us a precise instrument for measuring pressure in grams and controlling tool movement speed. We’ve designed the system in a way that the manipulator’s movements are recorded with all precise dynamics and pressure levels. The movement history maylater be replayed and analyzed by algorithms. By comparing patient preferences with specific parts of the movement history, we can pinpoint the most effective techniques for each individual, similar to how a popular video platform uses likes to determine viewer preferences. Gathering more data on the effectiveness of treatments will ultimately improve the quality of care based on big data analysis.
Could you explain the role of the 3D camera system in enhancing the effectiveness of the treatments?
A robot is an automated system that may interact with real objects based on the task it is preprogrammed for. Simply put, it is a machine that can see, make decisions and act according to its assigned tasks. One of the most effective ways to detect a human body’s position is by using Lidars—3D depth sensors, often referred to as ‘3D cameras.' They help create a detailed 3D map of the patient’s body. You can think of massage lines as tracks that are mapped onto the patient's body. Lidars generate a point cloud, which is then used to build this precise map.
Dennis, the founder of roboSculptor, envisioned by 3D scanners as a point cloud.
Can you explain how the system adapts a massage session based on the user’s biometric feedback?
During the procedure, patients can also adjust the pressure level. The system is paired with an app that lets users define ‘no-go zones'—sensitive areas the machine should avoid during treatment.”
It’s not really biometric feedback that we implement in the current version, although we have evaluated different analysis systems like measuring BMI, skin quality, etc. While these could make the system more personalized, they would also complicate its operation. At later stages, we will get back to these topics. The current version of roboSculptor allows patiens to choose various treatment programs depending on their goals, with the choice acting as a setting. During the procedure, patients can also adjust the pressure level. The system is paired with an app that lets users define ‘no-go zones'—sensitive areas the machine should avoid during treatment.
illustration of no-go zones on a female 3-d model. roboSclulptor.
What significant challenges did you face while developing roboSculptor, and how did you overcome them?
First comes the security. Fortunately for clients, you can’t just put a product or a technology on the market without passing all the necessary tests. But passing them takes time for business, sometimes more than expected. Moreover, the complex interplay between innovation and regulation can slow the adoption of disruptive technologies, leading to a paradoxical situation where cutting-edge solutions face resistance from traditional frameworks.
Economic uncertainty adds another layer of complexity. Fluctuations in market demand, regulatory changes, and unexpected geopolitical events can all throw a wrench. For starters, they may affect the feasibility and profitability of startups and repel potential investors with the finances to support product development. And raising funding for robotics is hard enough now as it is. Historically, investors hesitate to back robotics ventures due to the high cost of research, development, prototyping, manufacturing, and longer development cycles compared to software-based ventures. We can see this from companies like ARTAS, the developer of a robot for hair transplantation, which still hasn’t turned a profit.
Moreover, some solutions are hard to replicate quickly due to their high costs. Therefore, companies may not grow at the pace that you would expect. And it could take years for investors to exit and get returns from their investments.
What machine learning techniques are used to enhance the therapeutic outcomes of roboSculptor continually?
Body detection involves processing a large amount of data. To optimize the method of pose detection in real-time, we use a neural network. Through machine learning, we’ve developed a model that continuously monitors patients’ body positions in real time. This data is used to update a body map that assists a robot in delivering a customized massage. This allows the robot to adapt to any posture changes and provide precise tool positioning and effective treatment.
How do you see the role of AI and robotics evolving in the healthcare and wellness sectors over the next decade?
According to data from the International Spa Association (iSpa), there was a shortage of 29,000 massage therapists in the US in 2022. And the deficit is still present. Robotic solutions can close this gap. Another benefit is that they can provide massages to those who cannot resort to traditional masseuses for different reasons (from being uncomfortable with human touch to cultural nuances).
In addition, robotic and AI-based solutions can significantly increase the revenue of SPA providers. For starters, robots can work more efficiently than humans, performing tasks faster and more precisely. Our research shows that they can perform double the procedures of a human therapist, generating up to 2.4 times more revenue for wellness facilities. Moreover, operational costs could drop by up to 40%, with returns on investment hitting 54% per device annually.
Furthermore, integrating robots and AI in healthcare can automate routine tasks, allowing healthcare professionals to focus more on direct patient care and complex decision-making. These technologies can also reduce errors, improve efficiency, and improve patient service.
How do you envision roboSculptor transforming the wellness industry?
One of the problems in hotels’ SPA/wellness centers is the lack of skilled therapists. During the pandemic, some therapists who lost their jobs at that time just changed professions. The others do not want to work full-time and prefer more life in their work-life balance than before. The other one is that therapist's schedules are determined by labor laws and their physical abilities. In the era of continuously rising consumption, the demand needs to be covered. And the labor market does not have enough specialists to offer.
As cited in ISPA 2023 research paper ‘Staff shortages were most often cited as the primary reason given by spas reporting a decrease in their weekly hours of operation and also those saying they had decreased the number of service provider shifts per day.
Limited SPA zones working hours decrease the return on investment of SPA and wellness centres. In the nearest healthcare industry, it’s physiotherapists' needs are far from fully covered by specialists available.
Labor is one of the limitations in many industries and economics in general. I believe that implementing automation will not only deliver treatments at more flexible and convenient times for consumers but also significantly impact the wellness industry. By adding robotics, we can expand accessibility to vital services and ensure consistent quality for a much larger number of people worldwi
Thank you for the great interview, readers who wish to learn more should visit roboSculptor.
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