Bodyfriend 'iRobo', Reborn as a Healthcare Robot

Released in 2012, 46 Billion KRW Sales in One Year
16 Massage Modes... Wireless App Development

Bodyfriend announced on the 19th that it has reinvented the ‘i-ROVO,’ launched in 2012, as a healthcare robot.

Bodyfriend's 2024 model iRobo [Photo by Bodyfriend]

i-ROVO was a product that led the popularization of massage chairs by opening the era of ‘design massage chairs.’ With its curved design and reasonable price range, it recorded sales of 46 billion KRW within one year of its launch.

Bodyfriend developed the 2024 version of i-ROVO, reflecting the symbolism of the original i-ROVO while incorporating advanced technologies accumulated over time. It applied three patents, including ‘robotics technology’ and a technology where the two leg massage units operate independently to provide new stimulation to the core areas of the body.

The main massage modes total 16, including ‘Robo Care,’ ‘Daily Care,’ and ‘Area Care.’ Among these, ‘Robo Gastrocnemius Relaxation’ is a mode specialized for calf massage. A Bodyfriend representative explained, “The gastrocnemius, a major muscle of the calf known as the ‘second heart,’ plays a role in stabilizing the knee joint and supporting proper walking. While typical calf massagers have air pump capacities around 3 liters, i-ROVO uses a large-capacity 20-liter air pump to enhance the sensitivity of calf air massage and help relax the gastrocnemius, which tends to accumulate fatigue easily.”

Usability has also been improved. A quick remote control is embedded at the top of the left arm massage unit, and a wireless application (APP) that allows product operation has been developed. By downloading it via QR code, users can control the massage instead of using the remote. It enables real-time entertainment and convenient, safe control through detailed voice guidance.

The massage module protrudes up to 120 mm. Users can adjust the massage intensity in three levels, and airbags envelop the entire body, including the shoulders, arms, pelvis, calves, insteps, and heels.

A Bodyfriend representative said, “i-ROVO was a product that contributed to Bodyfriend’s rise as a national massage chair brand over a decade ago. Through this upgrade to a healthcare robot, we aim to present a new paradigm in the mid-to-low price massage chair market. We are confident that it is an innovative healthcare robot reflecting the latest trends with an accessible price point that can thaw frozen consumer sentiment, massage functions that exceed expectations, and a compact size.”