Robotic Caregiver Helps Carry Patients in Healhtcare Facilities

A robot capable of omnidirectional movement has been developed in Japan for carrying patients to different locations in long-term care facilities and hospitals.

The Robot for Interactive Body Assistance (RIBA) is a 180-kg device designed to carry people weighing up to 61 kg between hospital beds, wheelchairs, or toilets. The robot has the features of a bear, to present a "friendlier” countenance. RIBA is capable of autonomous movement; additionally, a haptic guidance system allows intuitive control and guidance by a human operator, via voice guidance or a remote control. The robot's arms are each powered by six motors, and are equipped with tactile sensors along their entire circumference, which helps the robot adjust leverage position at any angle of approach, making the transfer safe and comfortable for the patients. RIBA also has audio-visual face recognition capabilities that allow it to move so that it always faces the operator.

RIBA possesses an interferometer drive mechanism in the arm joints allowing two types of bending and twisting movements in one operation by using a bevel gear mechanism based on two motors using a common differential gear. This mechanism is necessary only when bending or twisting, when the two motors generate a combined torque force to jointly shoulder the effort necessary to stretch the robotic arms up and bend at the elbow joints. RIBA was designed by engineers from the Japanese Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (RIKEN; Kobe, Japan) and Tokai Rubber Industries (Komaki City, Japan).

Care workers in healthcare setting typically need to transfer patients, on an average, nine times a day. In addition, one caregiver usually has to see to about five people, bringing the total transfers to over 40 a day. This physical burden causes a myriad of medical problems, including back pain.

Related Links:
RIKEN institute
Tokai Rubber Industries