Robotic Personal Aids for Mobility and Monitoring for the Elderly

Author

Spenko, M. ; Haoyong Yu ; Dubowsky, S.

Author_Institution

MIT, Cambridge, MA

Volume

14

Issue

3

fYear

2006

Firstpage

344

Lastpage

351

Abstract

Two rehabilitation devices, or personal aids for mobility and monitoring (PAMM), for use by the elderly are presented. The devices are intended to delay the transition from eldercare (assisted living) facilities to nursing homes. The robotic PAMMs provide support, guidance, and health monitoring. Two experimental systems are described: a cane and a walker. Issues of mobility, sensing, and control, as well as experimental data from trials in an assisted living facility using both systems are presented

Keywords

biomechanics; geriatrics; medical robotics; patient monitoring; patient rehabilitation; assisted living facility; cane; eldercare facilities; elderly; guidance; health monitoring; mobility; nursing homes; physical support; rehabilitation devices; robotic personal aids; walker; Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; Biomedical monitoring; Computerized monitoring; Costs; Laboratories; Mechanical engineering; Medical services; Mobile robots; Rehabilitation robotics; Senior citizens; Elderly; SmartCane; SmartWalker; mobility; personal aids for mobility and monitoring (PAMM); Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Canes; Equipment Design; Equipment Failure Analysis; Female; Humans; Male; Monitoring, Ambulatory; Movement Disorders; Robotics; Self-Help Devices; Telemedicine; Therapy, Computer-Assisted; Walkers;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1534-4320

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TNSRE.2006.881534

Filename

1703566