Biorobotics for Longevity

Abstract

The main aim of this paper is to illustrate the potentials that the use of robotic and mechatronic technologies (in combination with advanced biomechanical models) can offer to help elderly people identifying and slowing down the effects of the age-related modifications of the neuro-musculo-skeletal systems and therefore increasing their possibility of staying at home reducing the hospitalization time. In particular, a three phases approach is proposed in this paper: (i) the use of robotic and mechatronic systems to analyse the age-related modifications of the motor control strategies (in particular for falling risk) in clinics or research laboratories; (ii) the use of wearable systems to assess motor performance in a unstructured environment (e.g., the house of the people); (iii) the use of technological aids to help elderly people to live autonomously in their domestic environment. The results illustrated in this manuscript seems to confirm that this approach can provide interesting and useful tools to increase the quality of life of elderly people.