Development of a robotic system for the bed-ridden

Abstract

The ability to live without the help of a caretaker enhances the quality of life of those who are bed-ridden or confined to a wheel-chair. A lot of systems have been proposed to support the daily life of bed-ridden. A smart home, especially a bed-type robot system, can help the movement and action of patients. This paper discusses the development of an intelligent bed robot system (IBRS), which can help the elderly and the disabled have independent life in bed. The IBRS is a special bed equipped with two robot arms and an array of pressure sensors attached to the mattress. The pressure distribution on the mattress is used to estimate the pose of the patient, and an appropriate assistance is provided by the robot arms. The proposed system has been tested experimentally for its effectiveness while maximizing the therapeutic outcome.