Understanding Moxibustion Robots in One Article: How Can Traditional Moxibustion Be Upgraded Through

When it comes to moxibustion, many people imagine the smoky scene of a health spa: a technician holding a moxa stick suspended over an acupuncture point, having to control the distance and adjust the angle, which can easily lead to burns. However, a "moxibustion robot" that can automatically locate acupuncture points, control temperature, and provide treatment is changing this traditional model. How does it work? What challenges does it solve with traditional moxibustion? Today, we'll introduce you to this innovative product that combines traditional Chinese medicine with modern technology in simple terms.

First, understand: The pain points of traditional moxibustion are precisely where robots can provide breakthroughs.

Before understanding moxibustion robots, we must first understand the inconveniences of traditional moxibustion—the core problem that technology needs to address. Traditional moxibustion relies on manual operation, which presents three unavoidable pain points:

Temperature control is difficult: The temperature of a burning moxa stick fluctuates depending on the intensity of the burn and its distance from the skin. Even experienced technicians struggle to maintain a constant temperature every second. This can negatively impact the effectiveness of the treatment, or even lead to burns (for example, Ms. Zhang from Zhuhai suffered blisters after a moxibustion treatment due to a technician's unsteady hands).

Acupuncture points are difficult to pinpoint: Traditional Chinese Medicine requires millimeter-level precision for acupuncture points. For example, the Zusanli acupoint is located 3 inches below the knee. However, this 3-inch distance varies from person to person due to height and body shape. Finding it accurately is impossible for the average person to do it themselves, and even professional technicians rely on years of experience.

The procedure is cumbersome: A moxibustion session often takes over 30 minutes, requiring a fixed posture and the smell of moxa smoke. This makes it difficult for office workers, the elderly, and other groups to maintain regular treatment.

The design of the moxibustion robot, in essence, addresses these pain points one by one through technological means, transforming moxibustion from a "handicraft dependent on experience" into a "standardized health service."

Deconstructing the Core Technology: How Does the Robot Achieve "Smart Moxibustion"?

The seemingly complex moxibustion robot relies on three core technical modules working together. We can think of it as a "thinking therapist"—with "eyes" (positioning), a "brain" (control), and "hands" (execution).

Using "3D Vision + Modeling" as its "eyes," it finds acupuncture points more accurately than humans.

The robot's "eyes" are 3D vision sensors, coupled with 3D human body modeling technology. When we stand in front of the robot, the sensors complete a full-body scan within one minute, creating a "3D map" of the body and marking all acupuncture points requiring treatment.

Its accuracy can reach millimeters. For example, to locate the "Dazhui" point (below the most prominent bone at the back of the neck), the robot can locate it using bone contours and skin texture, with an error of less than 1 millimeter. This is far more accurate than manual methods like "feeling for bones and counting inches." Even those with unusual body shapes can find the exact acupuncture point by adjusting the modeling data in real time. Relying on "infrared sensors + AI algorithms" as its "brain," it achieves more stable temperature control than humans.

The robot's "brains" are infrared temperature sensors and AI control algorithms. During moxibustion, the sensors monitor the skin's surface temperature 20 times per second, transmitting the data to the AI algorithm in real time.

If the temperature exceeds 45°C (the upper limit of comfort and safety for the human body), the algorithm immediately instructs the robotic arm to move the moxa stick farther away. If the temperature falls below 38°C (the minimum effective temperature for moxibustion), it moves it closer. Ultimately, the temperature error is controlled within ±0.1°C, completely eliminating the risk of burns.

This "real-time monitoring + automatic adjustment" model is more reliable than manual temperature assessment, maintaining a stable temperature even for an hour of continuous moxibustion.

Using "robotic arms + programming" as its "hands," the technique is more precise than that of humans.

The robot's "hands" are multi-jointed robotic arms capable of replicating five classic traditional moxibustion techniques: hovering moxibustion (fixed-distance moxibustion), spiral moxibustion (clockwise rotation), and pecking moxibustion (up and down movements like a bird pecking). These techniques aren't random movements. Instead, they're programmed with data from experienced technicians (such as the speed of the rotation and the frequency of the pecking motion). The robotic arm accurately replicates these movements, even more accurately than manual intervention. For example, the diameter of the circular moxibustion circle remains constant at 3 cm, unlike manual intervention, where it can occasionally be larger or smaller.

Even more conveniently, users simply select a program like "cervical therapy" or "lumbar conditioning" on the touchscreen, and the robotic arm automatically plans the moxibustion path. No human supervision is required, allowing the entire treatment process to be completed unattended.

It can be said that moxibustion robots are "using technology as a tool to make traditional Chinese medicine more practical." They don't alter the essential nature of moxibustion, which warms the meridians and regulates the body's constitution. Instead, they make this ancient practice more adaptable to modern lifestyles, making it more accessible to ordinary people.

From helping patients recover in hospitals, to facilitating care in the community, to satisfying daily needs at home, moxibustion robots are making moxibustion available anytime, anywhere. When traditional Chinese medicine meets modern technology, the ultimate beneficiaries are ordinary people who want to protect their health through moxibustion.