Communications of the ACM
'Robot Tail' Could Help Reduce Risk of Falling for Elderly
Keio University researchers have developed a prototype robot tail to help people with issues of balance.
Credit: The Telegraph
Researchers at Keio University in Japan have developed a prototype robot tail to enhance human balance and help make seniors less susceptible to falls.
The modular Arque prototype is modeled after a seahorse tail, and employs artificial vertebrae and pneumatic muscles driven by pressurized air to move.
The tail's creators said its design "is fluid and customizable in length."
The researchers also utilize a wearable body tracker to calculate a person's center of gravity, so the tail can swing as a counterbalance.
In addition to serving as a mobility aide, the researchers also foresee recreational uses for the tail, like using it in virtual reality games to make them more immersive.
From The Telegraph (U.K.)
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Abstracts Copyright © 2019 SmithBucklin, Washington, DC, USA
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