Robotic assistive and rehabilitation devices in home environments

• Main Author: Zhang, Zhang
• Other Authors: Dino Accoto
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2021
• Subjects: Engineering::Mechanical engineering
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/150897
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Falls represent a significant threat to the health and independence of adults aged 65 years and older. There is a need to develop a fall prevention device. This project begins by highlighting the significance of aging in the global population and comparing the various fall prevention projects, then focuses on developing a human following feature for a fall prevention robot to prevent the elderly from hitting the ground when accidentally fall. This includes Arduino program code to control robot movement, an android application developed in Java which is used to control the robot, with android library OpenCV (Open Source Computer Vision) which to detect the position of the elderly and integration of all these codes. Currently, the available device is developed in Python which controls through a PC or laptop. Comparing the study by integrating through an android device, it is easier accessible through a phone by the public and affordable. This report documents and presents the conceptual design, program codes, engineering drawing, and test results, concludes by giving limitations of the device and providing possible future improvements.