A Robotic Walker for the Frail Elderly with Visual Impairment

Collaboration with Atlanta VA

Principal Investigator/s: Rory Cooper, PhD, Bruce Blasch, PhD,

Co-Investigator/s: Andrew Rentschler, MS, Michael Boninger, MD

8/2000 – 8/2003

Clinical testing has been completed for the VA-PAMAID robotic walker. Additional engineering testing was also completed on the walker sensors and obstacle avoidance algorithm. These results are being used as a model for testing other robotic mobility devices. Dr. Andrew Rentschler completed his doctoral dissertation, and further publications are in preparation.

Analyses of the clinical data provided information concerning the performance and reliability of the walker, as well as subjective opinions about the appearance and function of the device from the experimental subjects.  Design changes and technology transfer have begun to occur as a result of the data. The VA-PAMAID is available now as a commercial product with very limited sales due to cost.  Initial reports indicate that the VA-PAMAID increased the security and independence of many of the subjects.  Specific issues concerning obstacle detection distance, reliability, and control placement are currently being addressed.  All of the information from this study is being disseminated through peer-reviewed journal articles.  The results of this study is helping to develop the VA-PAMAID (and similar technologies) into a viable and user-friendly assistive mobility device for the elderly, but it has also established standards for the future development and testing of similar assistive robotic devices.