Development of an Exercise Support    System for the Elderly Which Uses a Small Humanoid Robot

Masataka Hirano; Naohiko Hanajima; Keigo Urita; Satoru Muto; Yohei Muraoka; Makoto Ohata

doi:10.20965/jrm.2013.p0939

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JRM Vol.25 No.6 pp. 939-948

doi: 10.20965/jrm.2013.p0939

(2013)

Paper:

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Development of an Exercise Support System for the Elderly Which Uses a Small Humanoid Robot

Masataka Hirano^, Naohiko Hanajima^, Keigo Urita^,
Satoru Muto^, Yohei Muraoka^, and Makoto Ohata^

^*Muroran Institute of Technology, 27-1 Mizumoto-cho, Muroran, Hokkaido 050-8585, Japan

^**Steel Memorial Muroran Hospital, 1-45 Chiribetsu-cho, Muroran, Hokkaido 050-0076, Japan

Received:

May 10, 2013

Accepted:

October 24, 2013

Published:

December 20, 2013

Keywords:

small humanoid robot, rehabilitation, preventive long-term care activity, motion sensor

Abstract

The increasing number of senior citizens who need long-term care or rehabilitation has become a serious issue, especially considering the increasing aging population and declining birthrate. To maintain one’s motor functions and improve one’s muscle strength or range of motion, it is important to continue exercising constantly. We have developed a prototype exercise support system that aim to promote and evaluate exercise of users. This system includes a small humanoid robot presenting the exercises, amotion sensor, a touch panel, a laptop PC to control other devices, and other parts. We propose a method of detecting the specific poses of the users from the skeleton data of the motion sensor. We use a questionnaire to evaluate the system’s effect on the promotion of exercise and the users’ understanding of the movements of the robot, and we use a motion sensor to evaluate motion recognition of the users during the exercises. The system is tested by young people and also elderly staying in a geriatric health service facility. The questionnaire results indicate that the elderly subjects react positively to the exercises. The pose detection method shows a correct answer rate of 94% for the young subjects and 87% for the elderly subjects. It is confirmed that the prototype system can be put into practice use.

Cite this article as:

M. Hirano, N. Hanajima, K. Urita, S. Muto, Y. Muraoka, and M. Ohata, “Development of an Exercise Support System for the Elderly Which Uses a Small Humanoid Robot,” J. Robot. Mechatron., Vol.25 No.6, pp. 939-948, 2013.

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References

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[2] X. Zhang et al., “Synchronization-based trajectory generation method for a robotic suit using neural oscillators for hip joint support in walking,” Mechatronics, Vol.22, Iss. 1, pp. 33-44, 2012.
[3] K. Kiguchi et al., “Controller Adjustment of an Exoskeleton Robot for Shoulder Motion Assistance,” J. of Robotics and Mechatronics, Vol.16, No.3, pp. 245-255, 2004.
[4] B. Lange et al., “Development and Evaluation of Low Cost Game-Based Balance Rehabilitation Tool Using theMicrosoft Kinect Sensor,” Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBC), 2011 Annual Int. Conf. of the IEEE, pp. 1831-1834, 2011.
[5] H. Zhou et al., “Human motion tracking for rehabilitation – A survey,” Biomedical Signal Processing and Control, Vol.3, Iss. 1, pp. 1-18, 2008.
[6] A. P. L. Bo et al., “Joint Angle Estimation in Rehabilitation with Inertial Sensors and its Integration with Kinect,” Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBC), 2011 Annual Int. Conf. of the IEEE, pp. 3479-3483, 2011.
[7] J. Kusaka et al., “MovementMeasurement and Visualization for Rehabilitation Evaluation Support with Range Image Sensor,” Proc. of the 2013 JSME Conf. Robotics andMechatronics, pp. 1A1-M07(1)-(4), 2013.
[8] Y. Oida et al., “Feasibility of a home gymnastics robot to facilitate regular exercise among middle – and old – aged women,” J. of Japanese Society of Health Education and Promotion, Vol.17, No.3, pp. 184-193, 2009.
[9] H. Hirukawa, “preventive long-term care and rehabilitation gymnastics helper robot “Taizo”,” AIST TODAY, Vol.10, No.1, p. 21, 2010.
[10] M. Hirano, “Promoting preventive care exercises using a small humanoid robot – comparison between a robot and 2D movie –,” RSJ2012, Vol.30, 2K3-7, 2012.
[11]
Supporting Online Materials:[a] National Institute of Population and Social Security Research, “Population projection for japan (March 2013)”
http://www.ipss.go.jp/pp-shicyoson/j/shicyoson13/t-page.asp [Accessed December 3, 2013]
[12] [b] Overcoming Crises and Embarking on New Frontiers – The Strategy for Rebirth of Japan –
http://www.cas.go.jp/jp/seisaku/npu/#2 [Accessed December 3, 2013]

This article is published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 Internationa License.

[1] [1] H. Kobayashi et al., “Development of Muscle Suit and Application to Factory Laborers,” Proc. of the 2009 JSME Conf. Robotics and Mechatronics, pp. 1P1-E17(1)-(3), 2009.

[2] [2] X. Zhang et al., “Synchronization-based trajectory generation method for a robotic suit using neural oscillators for hip joint support in walking,” Mechatronics, Vol.22, Iss. 1, pp. 33-44, 2012.

[3] [3] K. Kiguchi et al., “Controller Adjustment of an Exoskeleton Robot for Shoulder Motion Assistance,” J. of Robotics and Mechatronics, Vol.16, No.3, pp. 245-255, 2004.

[4] [4] B. Lange et al., “Development and Evaluation of Low Cost Game-Based Balance Rehabilitation Tool Using theMicrosoft Kinect Sensor,” Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBC), 2011 Annual Int. Conf. of the IEEE, pp. 1831-1834, 2011.

[5] [5] H. Zhou et al., “Human motion tracking for rehabilitation – A survey,” Biomedical Signal Processing and Control, Vol.3, Iss. 1, pp. 1-18, 2008.

[6] [6] A. P. L. Bo et al., “Joint Angle Estimation in Rehabilitation with Inertial Sensors and its Integration with Kinect,” Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBC), 2011 Annual Int. Conf. of the IEEE, pp. 3479-3483, 2011.

[7] [7] J. Kusaka et al., “MovementMeasurement and Visualization for Rehabilitation Evaluation Support with Range Image Sensor,” Proc. of the 2013 JSME Conf. Robotics andMechatronics, pp. 1A1-M07(1)-(4), 2013.

[8] [8] Y. Oida et al., “Feasibility of a home gymnastics robot to facilitate regular exercise among middle – and old – aged women,” J. of Japanese Society of Health Education and Promotion, Vol.17, No.3, pp. 184-193, 2009.

[9] [9] H. Hirukawa, “preventive long-term care and rehabilitation gymnastics helper robot “Taizo”,” AIST TODAY, Vol.10, No.1, p. 21, 2010.

[10] [10] M. Hirano, “Promoting preventive care exercises using a small humanoid robot – comparison between a robot and 2D movie –,” RSJ2012, Vol.30, 2K3-7, 2012.

[11] [11]
Supporting Online Materials:[a] National Institute of Population and Social Security Research, “Population projection for japan (March 2013)”
http://www.ipss.go.jp/pp-shicyoson/j/shicyoson13/t-page.asp [Accessed December 3, 2013]

[12] [12] [b] Overcoming Crises and Embarking on New Frontiers – The Strategy for Rebirth of Japan –
http://www.cas.go.jp/jp/seisaku/npu/#2 [Accessed December 3, 2013]

Development of an Exercise Support System for the Elderly Which Uses a Small Humanoid Robot

Masataka Hirano*, Naohiko Hanajima*, Keigo Urita*, Satoru Muto*, Yohei Muraoka**, and Makoto Ohata**

Masataka Hirano^, Naohiko Hanajima^, Keigo Urita^,
Satoru Muto^, Yohei Muraoka^, and Makoto Ohata^