Robotic suit could make older people less reliant on care workers

A robotic suit could help older people walk and carry out chores in their own homes, reducing their dependence on care workers.

Academics have developed an exoskeleton suit, named AXO, fitted with motion sensors to detect its wearer's movements and trigger battery-powered motors to give older people the ‘power boost’ they need to get moving.

Older people will be able to walk around, pick up and carry things and maybe even do the gardening thanks to the suit's ability to help older people kneel in their flower beds.

“We are offering a medium level of assistance. It won’t make them superman,” said Associate Professor Shaoping Bai at the Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at Aalborg University in Denmark.

“It’s rather like helping someone cycle up a hill. The suit gives the power assistance older people need much like an electric bike.

"Our target audience is those that are able to stand and walk but feel weak.

“It will not control the person, the wearer will have to use their muscles too.”

Aalborg University is leading the project, which began last October, in collaboration with academics from Sweden’s University of Gävle and Ireland’s University of Limerick and five corporate partners.

An upper body prototype and lower body prototype has been developed with stage two seeing the integration of both into one suit.

The researchers have developed a motion detection algorithm to help people move around using the suit.

“The main technical challenge is to develop the motion control programme. The suit must be lightweight, compact and able to be used safely.”

Professor Bai believes the suit could be ready for market in five years. He added: “There is an ageing problem in developing countries and older people want to stay in their home for longer.

“We hope the suit will be used by older people in their homes and help them walk for longer, carry and handle objects and get the independence they want.”