From stay-in-place prototypes and miniature electronic accessories, wearable robots are facing a bright future not just as high-tech novelty items but medically-beneficial and functional automated assistants in the most unexpected ways.
Just recently, according to Recode, scientists from Stanford University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology presented their miniature artificially-intelligent robots called Rovables during the 29th ACM User Interface Software and Technology Symposium in Tokyo, Japan. The researchers laid out the potential uses for these nifty robots that could assemble to form a digital watch to a small video display monitor that can notify you of incoming email.
These miniature moving robots can travel around your clothing and instructed to perform specific functions through programmable commands that help track body temperature, skin conditions and even perform simple diagnostics for medical or treatment purposes.
But other than just simple functions, several research institutions are supporting research that harnesses the vast potential of wearable robotic technology in the therapy treatment for mobility therapy and stroke patient rehabilitation.
One such endeavor is called the BioMot Project, funded by the Commission on the European Union that is showing success in developing wearable robotic exo-skeletons equipped with bio-inspired sensory-motor capabilities to assist physically- disabled persons to wear custom-made wearable robots that mimic human movement with cognitive sensory abilities.
'One reason is that these systems can be optimized to deliver diverse therapeutic interventions at specific points of recuperation or care,' says Dr, Juan Mercado, BioMot project coordinator from the Spanish Council for Scientific Research. "Thanks to this framework, the BIOMOT exoskeleton can rely on mechanical and bio-electric measurements to adapt to a changing user or task condition (that) leads to improved robotic interventions.'
Another similar research conducted by the University of Delaware uses wearable robot technology to assist in the rehabilitation of stroke patients. Their study is focused on using this robotic technology to help stroke sufferers from being able to walk again.
The team conducting the research is harnessing their knowledge in biomedical engineering to help stroke recovering patients in sustaining their therapy after their initial six-month treatment. They are using bio-sensory capabilities of robotic technology to minimize, better yet, eliminate the need for cumbersome therapy equipment and warm bodies assisting in the patient's physical therapy programs.
These are just a few of the many experiments and even ongoing trials regarding the use of wearable robotic technology in the medical field that holds a bright future for more advanced technology applications. So, what's in store for wearable robots? A whole lot.
