Research and development of wearable auxiliary tool for behavior assistance of elderly who requires nursing care

Human Robotics Research Center (HRRC) has established in 2013 as an R&D center. Our objective is implement robots at the site of rehabilitation and nursing care. HRRC is working on the research and development of wearable auxiliary tool for behavior assistance of elderly who requires nursing care in cooperation with Kashiihara Hospital since 2015. Purpose of this research is to develop wearable device that can be reduce body burden of caregivers who carry out standing assistance / transfer assistance frequently at bathing care. We started this activity in 2015, and we have made 2 mockups so far. In 2016, a verification experiment of standing assistance / transfer assistance was conducted using prototype-1 that made based on the advice from Kashiihara hospital. As a result of the verification experiment, we assume 1st prototype will reduce the burden on caregivers. In the future, we will study "Powered Exoskeleton for Bathing Care" which applied ultra-mini hydraulic technology for body assistance and "Wearable Auxiliary Tool" that does not have body assistance".