Meet Mister Bah: Wearable Assistive Robot Helps Detect and Prevent Accidental Falls in Elderly People

Singapore researchers recently developed a robot that can catch elderly people when they fall.

Known as Mobile Robotic Balance Assistance or MRBA, or Mister Bah, this tech invasion is described in a PC Magazine report as a "wearable assistive robot" that can detect and prevent a fall even before it happens.

It was devised by researchers at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore, and Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) with assistance from the State-supported National Robotics Programme.

According to NTU Singapore, the robot uses inbuilt sensors to instantly identify a loss of balance and catches the user with its attached safety harness worn around the hips of the user.

Senior Fall Prevention

MRBA can help users who have difficulty walking and balancing to safely stand up from a seated position and sit down safely from a standing position, the university report specified.

A report from Insider indicates that falls are the leading cause of death related to injury in the US for individuals who are above 65 years old.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and NTU Singapore, the statistics from the World Health Organization specified that falls are the second leading cause of death from unintentional or accidental injuries all over the world.

In clinical tests involving nearly 30 participants, which included patients who suffered from a stroke, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal cord injuries, the study investigators discovered that MRBA was successful in aiding them with sitting, walking, standing, as well as assisting in tasks like fetching water, explained NTU Singapore.

The university also said that no falls had been recorded in the trials, which spanned three days for each participant.

How 'Mister Bah' Works

This prototype device consists of a "wheeled battery-powered base, which is connected to a padded harness worn around the hips of the user.

As the user walks around, MRBA follows behind him. Using a depth-sensing camera, as well as other sensors, it can detect the telltale movements, specifying a sudden loss of balance "on the part of the user, the NTU Singapore report said.

When the user falls, MRBA responds by stopping and holding the harness in place, keeping the person wearing it from falling.

The robot can identify deliberate movements as well, like those linked to sitting down, getting up, and standing on the spot.

Helping Wearers Walking Again

Along with helping out in the day-to-day lives of the user, the robot could be utilized in rehabilitative medicine, as well as holding wearers up as they're learning to walk again.

According to the University, the study investigators behind this MRBA invention have developed three prototypes of the robot and filed four patents associated with the underlying technology of the robot.

More so, they are presently seeking to expand the study and sign up 71 more participants from day rehabilitation centers to further build the use case in both home and community settings for the robot. Lastly, it could see a commercial release by 2023.

Report about the latest robot invention is shown on NTU Singapore's YouTube video below:

Check out more news and information on Robots in Science Times.