• FIBO
Assistive Technology (AT)
for Disabled/Elderly People
Djitt Laowattana, PhD
Institute of Field Robotics
King Mongkut’s Intitute of Technology Thonburi
Assistive Technology (AT)
- Technology/Devices to Enhance capability of
seniors/elderly and handicaps “Less
Dependence”
- Eliminate possible difficulty to perform
necessary activities
- Resulting motion may not resemble to
normal humans
Types of AT
“National Classification System for Assistive Technology Devices and
Services” by The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation
Research, USA
1. Architectural Elements
2. Sensory Elements
3. Computers
4. Controls
5. Independent Living
6. Mobility
7. Orthotics/Prosthetics
8. Recreation/Leisure/Sports
9. Modified Furniture/Furnishings
10. Services
***In reality, ATs
appear in many forms
combined***
1. Architectural Elements
– Intelligent Mechanism for opening/closing
doors based on speech and light beam
technology
– Modification of utilities i.e. baht room,
stairs, inclination to comfort the elderly
2. Sensory Elements
• Vision Aids
– Haptics System, representing human eyes for estimating exact areas
Camera
Extraction of Visual Scene
– Alphabet to sound
– Image amplification
Feedback of Visual Scene
(edge, person, door,…)
2. Sensory Elements
• Hearing Aids
– Amplify environmental sounds,
cutting unwanted noise
– Flash light replacing door knocking
– Word caption telephone
2. Sensory Elements
• Cognitive Aids
– Keyboard with group keys assigned colors and location,
special buttons for launching desired application
– Text-to-audio-software
2. Sensory Elements
• Augmentative Communication Aids
– Voice Generator with Text-to-Speech function
– Combining augmented image data to support
human visual system
3. Computers
• Hardware and Software
– HeadMouse on top of monitor, mapping the eye
motion to positions of pointers on screen
– Braille Character Keyboard
– Voice actuators
4. Controls
• Devices helping elderly having difficulty in
movingto perform some tasks
– Sip/Puff switch by closing lips with pressure,
exhale air through mouth
– Voice Command
– Software connecting all facility to
a computer ex. BAS
5. Independent Living
• อุปกรณ์ที่ช่วยให้ ผ้ พู ิการ/ผู้สงู อายุสามารถดาเนินชีวิตประจาวันได้
ตามปกติ ตังแต่
้ การแต่งตัว ทาครัว เข้ าห้ องน ้า ทาความสะอาด กิน
นอน นัง่ เดิน เช่น
– หุน่ ยนต์ทาความสะอาดบ้ าน
– แปรงสีฟันไฟฟ้า
– Sensor สาหรับฝั กบัวและชักโครกอัตโนมัติ
– อุปกรณ์ช่วยป้อนอาหาร
6. Mobility
• Motion/Mobile Facilitator
– Walking Aids
– Manual, Electric Mobile Chairs
– Supporting Bars
7. Orthotics/Prosthetics
• For amputees
Bionic hand controlled by nerve signal
Variable Damp Artificial Leg by FIBO
Exoskeleton supporting weak muscle , useful
for rehabilitation
8. Recreation/Leisure/Sports
• Enhancing ability in performing recreation
activities as normal life
– Special Prosthetics for exercising
– Software for synthesizing sounds for music
performance
9. Modified Furniture/Furnishings
• Focusing on safety and ergonomics
– Adjustable level bed, easing get in and out
– Standing suporter
10. Services
• Make them less dependence on us
– Public Rest Room, Crossroad, Telephone Access,
Integration of Assistive Technology:
The Examples
Smart Home Technology
• Integrate all AT to homes tailored for elderly and
handicaps
ระบบควบคุมอุปกรณ์ทงหมดภายในบ้
ั้
าน
Remote Monitoring
• Internet with local sensors connecting one hospital to many
smart homes for monitoring their health
• Tele-operation robot, serving elderly for food, water and
medicine taking
Robotics for Disabled/Elderly People
Various trays
for various
activities
Tray for food taking
Tray for teeth brushing
Tray for facial cosmatic
Robotics for Disabled/Elderly People
Robot for rehabilitation
Robot curing Autism
A Cradle of Future Leaders in Robotics
http://fibo.kmutt.ac.th
Dr. Laowattana’s research interest is primarily in fundamental areas of
robotic dexterity, design for manufacturing / assembly of high
precision systems. He was awarded an honor with his B.Eng. from
King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT). Under
the Monbusho Program, he received a certificate in Precision
Mechanics and Robotics at Kyoto University. He subsequently
obtained his PhD. in 1994 from Carnegie Mellon University, USA
under financial support from the Fulbright Fellowship Program and
the AT&T Advanced Research Program. In 1996, he also received a
certificate in Management of Technology from Massachusetts
Institute of Technology (MIT) USA. He holds two US patents for
robotic devices. He is the founding director of the Institute of Field
Robotics Development (FIBO) and the first President of Thai
Robotics Society (TRS). He served as an executive board member
of TOT, the largest telecom public company. Presently, he is director
of Hard disk Cluster Program at National Science and Technology
Development Agency (NSTDA). His responsibility is to strengthen
hard disk industry in Thailand by formulating critical collaborative
networks in the areas of R&D, HRD and Supply Chain Development
among professionals from 30 national universities/laboratories and
four multi-national companies, producing one of the highest annual
turnover of 500 billions baht