Wearable robotic device detects and prevents falls

Dubbed the Mobile Robotic Balance Assistant (MRBA), the robot uses its inbuilt sensors to instantaneously detect a loss of balance and catches the user with its attached safety harness which is worn around the user’s hips.

According to NTU Singapore, the device would also help users who have difficulty in walking and balancing to stand up from a seated position, and to sit down from a standing position. It also uses a depth-sensing camera to observe the user’s movements, while its machine-learning algorithms estimate the user’s balance in real time to better predict future falls.

The human ability to balance degenerates with age and is exacerbated by neurological diseases and injuries, musculoskeletal problems and vertigo. This loss of balance control often results in falls, particularly among the elderly.

MRBA can help people to live with conditions and has been designed for use with minimal caregiver assistance. MRBA was co-developed by a team of researchers, engineers, and data specialists at the Rehabilitation Research Institute of Singapore (RRIS) at NTU, alongside clinicians and researchers at TTSH.