Medical, Military Robotics - No Longer Science Fiction

Automation plays key role in futuristic applications

Michelle Hopey, Contributing Editor -- Design News, September 21, 2008

While robotic applications have become almost commonplace in industrial manufacturing, the use of advanced futuristic automated applications, like those used in rehabilitation and military projects, are also on the rise.

 "Many of these robots are science fiction projects of years' past, but now they are becoming relevant," says Adil Shafi, president of SHAFI Inc, a Michigan-based provider of simplified software solutions for vision-guided robotics.

An innovator of 2-D/3-D vision robotics, Shafi spoke about robotic innovation applications at the Robotic Industries Assn.'s conference and expo, "Robots 2008; What's Next," at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston recently. He said advancements once considered futuristic are now realistic and have a place in society. Robotic applications also save time and money, he said.

"Advanced robotic applications can actually produce a better product than a manual project," he said.

One such robotic invention is the Lokomat, made by Zurich, Switzerland-based Hocoma AG. It is locomotion therapy supported by an automated gait orthosis on a treadmill that can improve walking abilities for those with neurological movement disorders.

According to Hocoma's website, the Lokomat is the first driven gait orthosis that assists walking movements of impaired patients. It is used to improve mobility in individuals following a stroke, spinal cord injury, brain injury, multiple sclerosis or other neurological diseases and injuries.

"Performance results are dramatic," said Shafi, who showed a short video clip on the Lokomat. "Of course, it's pre-clinical and pre-FDA approval (in the U.S.), but it is used and approved in Holland and Japan."

According to Shafi, a patient who is using an automated rehabilitation machine like the Lokomat must be able to produce some type of brain command or have some amount of limb ability in order to move their body, so the machine can aide in the rehabilitation.

The Lokomat requires only one therapist to help the patient strap in and out.

Another up-and-coming robotic application is the KineAssist, a robotic rehabilitation system that catches a person who is learning to walk again if he or she falls. The machine straps onto the back and catches the person.

It is made by Kinea Design LLC , a company that specializes in human-machine motion control and works on large projects including DARPA's Revolutionizing Prosthetics 2009.

KineAssist technology allows therapists to challenge patients in functional environments with reduced concern about falls. It also records objective measures and allows patients to integrate with existing practice settings, according to the company's website.

Unlike equipment that requires significant set-up time and additional staff, this rehab robot requires only one therapist, minimal set-up time and is used during transition, standing balance, ambulation and dynamic balance therapy.

"There are so many dramatic stories of these robotic applications helping people walk," Shafi said. "The KineAssist is vision and force learning. Force needs to be applied, so haptics are essential in these robots."

Shafi also explained that military applications are becoming more automated, incorporating industrial equipment.

He gave an example of the John Deere Skid Steer Loader, which is the core of many autonomous unmanned ground vehicles (UGV) and has already premiered in combat."There is a lot of desire to put an industrialized robot on the end," he said.

According to Shafi, the opportunities are endless. A future use may include picking up soldiers in a war zone or detonating bombs.

A lot can be automated, but these (situations) require hydraulic, kinematic controls," he said.

He said a dual arm robot that will pick up an object using vision is also being developed. Autonomous robots have arrived," Shafi said. "They are here to stay and not only improve operations of business, but help people, too."