A new prototype developed at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Boston offers physical assistance for older people in their day-to-day movements, featuring airbags and cutting-edge safety technologies.
Falls are one of the leading causes of injury among people aged 65 and over: they may seem harmless, but they can trigger rapid physical decline and loss of independence, leading to death in the most serious cases. To address this real risk, researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed a robot designed to support older people in their day-to-day movements, helping them get up and cushioning their falls thanks to special embedded airbags. The successfully tested prototype marks a step forward in robotics at the service of independence and safety in older age.
Introducing E-BAR (Elderly Bodily Assistance Robot) – the new robot designed to physically support older people in their day-to-day movements and prevent falls, designed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Boston, one of the world’s top universities.
E-BAR: the robot that helps older people
E-BAR allows users to walk independently or lean completely on the device, which can lift them from sitting to standing – and vice versa – along a natural trajectory. The robot instantly inflates the side airbags to cushion the impact if the user falls.
Falls are currently the leading cause of injury among adults aged 65 and over. “Many older adults underestimate the risk... and refuse to use physical aids, [such as walkers], which are cumbersome, while others overestimate the risk and may not exercise, leading to declining mobility [and a gradual loss of independence and muscle strength],” said Harry Asada, professor of engineering at MIT, and project leader. Our design concept [for E-BAR] is to provide older adults... [with continuous but discreet support:] the handlebars [the robot’s “arms”] go anywhere and provide support anytime, whenever they need.”
The robot’s young designer, Roberto Bolli, a mechanical engineering graduate student, sees E-BAR as a real opportunity for the future of care: “I think eldercare is the next great challenge,” he said. “All the demographic trends point to a shortage of caregivers, a surplus of elderly persons, and a strong desire for elderly persons to age in place. We see it as an unexplored frontier... but also an intrinsically interesting challenge for robotics.”
The robot, which was unveiled at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Conference in Atlanta in late May, has been tested in the laboratory with an older volunteer, simulating challenging everyday activities, such as picking an item up from the ground, stretching up to reach a high shelf or getting out of the bath. In all these scenarios, E-BAR was shown to provide safe and active support, without hindering the individual’s movements.
Extremely solid base and mechanical bars
As explained on the MIT website, the device features an extremely solid (100-kilogram) base fitted with special wheels that allow effortless movement in all directions. What’s more, measuring just 38 centimetres across, it fits easily into any home setting. Extending from the base – which is optimised to support a person of average weight, without tipping or slipping – are articulated bars similar to those of a foldable crane. These bars lift the user in a stable and natural way. Two handlebars in a U-shape at the front offer comfortable and safe support, while the airbags embedded in the mechanical “arms” prevent injuries or bruising by inflating in a fraction of a second when they sense that the person is about to fall. E-BAR’s capabilities are clearly described in a video produced by the US researchers.
New advances with artificial intelligence
For now, E-BAR is operated using a joystick. But the bioengineers are working on making it autonomous and capable of intervening even without a command, by means of an artificial intelligence system. The researchers are also attempting to make E-BAR even smaller and more manoeuvrable.
“Eldercare conditions can change every few weeks,” said Asada. “We’d like to provide continuous and seamless support as a person’s disability or mobility changes with age.”
Image: Courtesy of the researchers
