Feeder Robot
From: NASA Tech Briefs - 12/12/2006

Engineers at SECOM (Tokyo, Japan) have developed the My Spoon robot, designed
to help feed patients unable to feed themselves. Requiring minimum setup from
an outside source, such as preparing food into bite-sized pieces on the
provided tray, My Spoon can be used with almost any kind of food. The device
can be tailored for different degrees of disability. The robot is designed
for safety: the manipulator, tipped with a spoon and fork, is designed so as
not to hurt the user, and its position is set at the beginning of each meal.  

My Spoon has three modes of operation -- manual, semi-automatic, and full
auto. Manual operation permits the use of a joystick, fully controlling the
position of the eating utensil. Using the joystick, users select the
compartment from the tray that contains the desired food item. After the
spoon-fork reaches the compartment, the joystick is used to fine-tune its
position near the item. After the spoon is in place, the user, via joystick,
instructs the spoon-fork to scoop the food. The utensil will scoop the item
and automatically approach the mouth. When the mouth comes in contact with
the spoon, the fork will automatically retract. 

Read the entire article at:
http://www.secom.co.jp/english/myspoon/index.html

Links:
Disability Robot
http://www.disabilityrobot.com/

My Spoon Robot On Full Auto
http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/Science-Fiction-News.asp?NewsNum=850

My Spoon User Feedback
http://www.secom.co.jp/english/myspoon/user.html

My Spoon Robot Feeds the Disabled
http://www.ohgizmo.com/tag/robots

"My Spoon" helps disabled people to feed themselves
http://www.robotbooks.com/robot-exhibition.htm