Design of an accompanying humanoid as a walking trainer for the elderly

Abstract

Population aging will have an economic and social impact in the near future. We will witness a declining of labor force and an increase of funding support for health care and pension. An active research field is now aiming at improving mobility of the elderly, since the importance of physical exercise for mental and physical health is an established fact. In order to have a user centered design approach, we conducted a feasibility study bringing the humanoid robot Pepper to a nursing home and testing the reactions of the older people when they have to walk with a robot for the first time. We wondered if the robot in such a situation might be able to monitor and encourage walking. The results of this experiment will lead to improve the design of an acceptable humanoid walking trainer which can help the overworked staff in a nursing home scenario.