Standing Assistance System for Rehabilitation Walker

Abstract

This paper proposes a walker system with power assistance device for standing up motion. Our system focuses on domestic uses for aged person who needs nursing in their daily life. Our key ideas are two topics. The first topic is new assistance mechanism with four parallel linkages. Our proposed manipulator mechanism requires only smaller actuators and realizes rigid structure with lighter linkages comparing with general manipulator. Thus, we can design our assistance system compactly with low-cost using our mechanism. The second topic is the combination of force and position control. According to the patient's posture during standing up, our control system selects more appropriate control method from them. We use the reference of standing-up motion which is based on the typical standing up motion by nursing specialist for realizing the natural assistance. The performance of our proposed assistance system is verified by computer simulations and experiments using our prototype.

Robotics in Nursing: A Scoping Review

“…Another example includes the SmartCane and SmartWalker, which can detect obstacles and build a map of their surroundings in order to localize the users inside the map, and subsequently guide them to different waypoints (Spenko, Yu, & Dubowsky, ). Other assistive devices include adaptive body support systems to help subjects (e.g., elderly) in standing and walking (Chugo, Matsuoka, Jia, Takase, & Asama, ). Finally, for people with severely impaired motion abilities, the MAid (Mobility Aid for Elderly and Disabled People) is a robotic wheelchair that can assure safe maneuvers in crowded spaces, such as malls and airports (Prassler, Scholz, Strobel, & Fiorini, ).…”

Assistive technologies for the new generation of senior citizens: the SHARE-it approach

“…Kulyukin et al's i-Walker is intended to guide elders in a small world and it is not prepared to avoid unexpected obstacles in that environment. Other walkers incorporate robotic aids that are prepared to help users to change their position as from sit-to-stand (Chugo et al, 2008). Standing up motion is one of the most serious and important operations in daily life for elderly person who does not have enough physical strength.…”