Development of "curara® Mobility Support" Robotic Wear with Fall Prevention Features

The curara® Robotic Wear for Mobility Support is designed to be a wearable mobility aid that supports the independence of older adults. It is intended primarily as a mobility aid to enable older adults and others to go out on their own, and we are developing a robot that older adults can use independently. In addition
to the walking assistance features of the existing curara®, we are adding new features such as "lightweight" design, "easy self-donning," "outdoor use," and "fall prevention."

Product Features

・To support the independence of older adults,
motors positioned at the left and right hip and knee joints assist the wearer’s movements. In addition to assisting with walking, the device also helps with standing
up and sitting down. Furthermore, it is now suitable for outdoor use, allowing wearers to go out while wearing it.

・It features a new "fall prevention
function." As a new safety feature, it includes a function to prevent shuffling gait and a function that alerts the wearer with sounds or other cues when swaying during walking becomes excessive, thereby preventing falls.

・The fitting method has
been simplified so that it can be easily used by oneself, and the device has been made lighter, with a target weight of 3 kg.

Technical Features

curara® Core Technology

① Non-exoskeletal Structure with No Movement Restrictions By employing a "non-exoskeletal structure
"—which eliminates the robot's skeleton and transmits the force generated by the motor directly to each of the wearer's joints—we have achieved robotic wear that is lighter and imposes fewer movement restrictions, thereby reducing the burden on the wearer.

② Torque Detection Method
for Detecting the Wearer’s Intentions: This highly practical torque detection technology detects the interaction torque between the wearer and the robot, with the aim of detecting the wearer’s movement intentions.

③ Synchronization Control
Method Adapting to the Wearer’s Movements: This control method is inspired by human-to-human movement assistance techniques, enabling repetitive movements for rehabilitation training through movement assistance tailored to the wearer’s functional level.

Name of robotic care device	Development of "curara® Mobility Support" Robotic Wear with Fall Prevention Features
Company Name	AssistMotion Co., Ltd. http://assistmotion.jp/
Key Area	Mobility Support (Wearable Mobility)
Target Users	Care recipients who are capable of independent mobility—even with the aid of a cane—and can swing their legs forward
Intended Usage Environment	Indoors, outdoors (paved roads), and inside facilities such as stores when out and about
Release Date	Scheduled for release starting April 2021
Inquiry Phone Number	0268-75-8124