Robotic massage: A revolution in self-care and wellness

Your local masseur got replaced by a robot. Which one is better? Only time will tell.

Most people welcome a massage after long sports training, running a marathon, after a stressful day or week at work, during rather stressful times, after a long writing day, and so many other situations that leave every muscle in the body sore and tense.

In fact, that’s how Aescape Inc. started. Eric Litman, Founder and CEO of Aescape, was leading a life of non-stop travelling. Spending frequent long hours on airplanes he developed a bulging disc that demanded a daily one hour long massage. “Finding consistent, powerful massages turned out to be harder than you might think,” he says, “and I figured, if it was hard for me, it was definitely hard for others, too.”

So, Litman recruited a team of engineers and product designers that includes alumni from Amazon, Apple, FitBit, MarkerBot, Peleton, Tonal, and Uber who worked closely with a team of expert licensed massage therapists to create an innovative AI-embedded robot expert in professional massage.

And that’s how since 2017 the startup has been developing massage robots using artificial intelligence, expanding into hospitality, professional sports, fitness, and mainstream markets. Aescape claims that its robotic massage is “the world’s first fully automated, customisable massage experience for personalised wellness and recovery.”

As I write this, I am sitting rolling back my shoulders, wishing there were someone or something here right now who could give me a good and relaxing full back massage. If I am lucky, one day in a not so distant future I will get a perfect robotic massage. Because, why not? Technology can only be better assessed after trying it. Otherwise, is just guessing and assuming.

The science behind robotic massage: How it works

The most fascinating part for me is how the robotic massage works, what makes it possible. In other words, what the technology behind the robot is. And I learn that Aescape’s Aertable (that’s how the robot is called) uses sensors and AI to map, understand, and adapt to each individual’s body contours and areas of tension.

It doesn’t come as a surprise that the system uses large amounts of data, capturing 1.2 million unique data points about the body’s muscle structure in order to create a personalised massage experience exclusively designed for each individual.

The massage is carried out by Aerpoints. The company gave the name of Aerpoints to the heated end effectors, which are the devices at the end of the robotic arm designed to replicate the seven touch techniques of a skilled physiotherapist.

Customers have to wear a custom apparel that the company called Aerware during the massage. Aescape says that the clothing helps the robot’s depth sensors better see the body.

Is a robotic massage worth the investment?

If you are wondering how much would it cost a robot massage session it will depend on what massage recommendation you choose from the application. Time sessions are 15, 30, and 60 minutes with prices from $30, $60, and $120 respectively.

After you have chosen, booked, and paid for your on-demand robot session on the Aescape application, you can simply go to your chosen location. In the future, you will be able to use the service in any of the international locations that will be available.

I would absolutely love to have a robot massage! However, for now, the robot massage is only available in New York, where Aescape has its headquarters. The startup has recently announced it has raised other $83M in strategic funding led by Valor Equity Partners, an early investor in Tesla and SpaceX.

The total funding is now $128 million, and the company will use it to scale operations, expand into new markets, and to bring robotic massager to more locations through partnerships with global brands.

In other words, the fully autonomous, personalised robotic massage for wellness and recovery might cross the ocean soon and land in a location nearby. I can’t wait! How would you like to have a robotic massage?