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Feasibility Study of a Socially Assistive Humanoid Robot for Guiding Elderly Individuals during Walking

Author

Listed:
  • Chiara Piezzo

    (University of Tsukuba, 305-8571 Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan)

  • Kenji Suzuki

    (University of Tsukuba, 305-8571 Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan)

Abstract

The impact of the world-wide ageing population has commenced with respect to society in developed countries. Several researchers focused on exploring new methods to improve the quality of life of elderly individuals by allowing them to remain independent and healthy to the maximum possible extent. For example, new walking aids are designed to allow elderly individuals to remain mobile in a safe manner because the importance of walking is well-known. The aim of the present study involves designing a humanoid robot guide as a walking trainer for elderly individuals. It is hypothesized that the same service robot provides an assistive and social contribution with respect to interaction between elderly users by motivating them to walk more and simultaneously provides assistance, such as physical assistance and gait monitoring, while walking. This study includes a detailed statement of the research problem as well as a literature review of existing studies related to walking companion robots. A user-centred design approach is adopted to report the results of the current first feasibility study by using a commercially available humanoid robot known as Pepper developed by Softbank-Aldebaran. A quantitative questionnaire was used to investigate all elements that assess intrinsic motivation in users while performing a given activity. Conversely, basic gait data were acquired through a video analysis to test the capability of the robot to modify the gait of human users. The results in terms of the feedback received from elderly subjects and the literature review improve the design of the walking trainer for elderly individuals.

Suggested Citation

  • Chiara Piezzo & Kenji Suzuki, 2017. "Feasibility Study of a Socially Assistive Humanoid Robot for Guiding Elderly Individuals during Walking," Future Internet, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-16, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jftint:v:9:y:2017:i:3:p:30-:d:103949
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Sungwook Jung & Sung Hee Ahn & Jiwoong Ha & Sangwoo Bahn, 2022. "A Study on the Effectiveness of IT Application Education for Older Adults by Interaction Method of Humanoid Robots," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-17, September.
    2. Lucie Vidovićová & Tereza Menšíková, 2023. "Materiality, Corporeality, and Relationality in Older Human–Robot Interaction (OHRI)," Societies, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, January.
    3. Alina Betlej, 2022. "Designing Robots for Elderly from the Perspective of Potential End-Users: A Sociological Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-17, March.
    4. Dang, Ngoc Bich & Bertrandias, Laurent, 2023. "Social robots as healing aids: How and why powerlessness influences the intention to adopt social robots," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 196(C).

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