User evaluation to apply the robotic arm RAPUDA for an upper-limb disabilities Patient´s Daily Life

To help the patients who have disabilities for their upper limbs because of muscle dystrophy or cervical spine injuries, we have developed robot arm RAPUDA which can support their daily life action. We have evaluated the user operation of the RAPUDA with the Pegboard. Now we evaluate the RAPUDA with usual objects in the environment where the real users spend their daily life. From the previous human ergonomics experiments and interview with the examinees, the desired action and objects are obtained. For example, scratching and wiping their faces. We make preliminary experiments for these tasks and consider as training tasks to introduce the robot arm to the daily life and some muscle dystrophy patients try the RAPUDA in the hospital.