Robotics team develops ‘smart trousers’ to assist the elderly and disabled

If you’ve ever seen the British animated comedy Wallace and Gromit then you know all about the “Wrong Trousers.”

Wallace's “Wrong Trousers”

The ex-NASA “Techno Trousers” were acquired by cartoon character Wallace to alleviate the burden of taking his dog for walks. 

Now, a robotics team from the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom, are developing a real-life pair of “smart trousers” that will use artificial muscles to assist the elderly and disabled.
 
The project will allow people with mobility issues, disabilities, and sheer old-age weaknesses to live independently. The smart pants made of soft robotic fabric could offer bionic strength by granting support while walking, standing and climbing stairs. 

The trousers could act as a replacement for home stair lifts, stability aids and even wheelchairs.
 
“This is the first time soft robotics technologies have been used to address the many rehabilitation and health care needs in one single type of wearable device,” said Dr. Jonathan Rossiter, Reader in Robotics in the Department of Engineering Mathematics at the University of Bristol.

Electroactive polymer artificial muscles around the wrist.
(Image via Jonathan Rossiter)

Devices that currently assist the elderly and disabled can actually cause poor circulation and skin pressure damage, but these intelligent pants would act as a second skin using artificial muscles made from smart materials and reactive polymers that are capable of withstanding a lot of force.

The wearable would include functional electrical stimulation and full-body monitoring technologies so that it can work with the body’s natural muscles.

Story via Bristol University.