Inventors from Singapore create robot that saves elderly people from falling

Researchers at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore have unveiled a new robot that can predict falls and catch older people before they fall, an important step in caring for the world's rapidly aging population, The Washington Post reports. 

The new device, which looks like a motorized wheelchair, has guardrails that reach up to a person's thigh and has sensors to detect when a person begins to lose their balance. Users wear seat belts, and when they begin to lean over, the robot engages them to keep them from falling.

Researchers say the device faces significant funding challenges to get to market, but it is scheduled for release in two years.

The inventors of the robot say their fall-preventing robot is a crucial achievement, especially since falls can often lead to serious injury or death.

According to the World Health Organization, falls are the second leading cause of death from unintentional injuries worldwide. In the U.S., falls remain the leading cause of injury-related deaths among adults age 65 and older, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show.

The inventors' goal is to get regulatory approval for the device in major markets around the world, including the U.S. They plan to release two versions of the robot. One is the hospital version, equipped with a host of high-end sensors and cameras that track the elderly person's movements, and could cost about $20,000. The other is the home version, which will either have fewer or lower-quality sensors and cameras, and could cost between $3,000 and $4,000.

Follow NEWS.am Medicine on Facebook and Twitter