Assistive Devices for Aged/Disabled  AUGMENTING HUMAN CAPABILITIES Sensors and end effectors improve or intensify human capabilities or supply those which may be compromised. Assistive devices are well- suited to supplement interpretation of the home or outside environment and present data in an easily understood form. End effectors provide actuating energy where needed to supplement or replace our ability to move or control objects, controls or devices, including thse which require visual or auditory feedback or those out of immediate reach. These sensory and control functions are the cornerstone of improved safety, independent quality of life and productivity. Some of the areas where we have successfully demonstrated our capabilities are listed below. ** Our most sophisticated assistive device is a small, radio-controlled MOBILE ROBOT originally used to provide supplemental home security for a bedridden equestrian after severe hip injury. We designed and built a small (24X18 inch 32 pound) mobile robot to provide views of the home interior and exterior views from first floor windows under operator control. The device may be positioned throughout the home and can retreive small objects to a height of 32 inches. After minor modification of home hardware the device can open select cupboards and a small refrigerator to retreive pre-positioned objects to 1.5 pounds, even fill a glass of water from a modified faucet. The platform includes a "retreival clamp", two cameras and can easily maneuver around furniture and miscellaneous objects. A self-docking recharging station is provided. The modular design permits performance of a variety of tasks and may be fitted with specialized controls (puff stick, head controls, foot switces, joystick or as required) to suit each client. ** A portable emergency "RELAY MODULE" was designed to aid the hearing impaired while travelling and enhance notification in an emergency. A sensor/transmitter module is placed adjacent to facility emergency strobe, doorbell, or alarm (or a door sensor to detect a knock) in hotels, homes or other locations. A companion receiving module placed near the client produces appropriate signals (e.g.vibrating pad or pager) when a signal is received from the transmitter module. The hardware nay be supplied by the host facility or by the client. ** An AUDIBLE LEVEL INDICATOR was designed and built for a blind client who had difficulty maintaining proper level in her home steam boiler. Water addition was required at differing intervals (based on heat load and outside temperature) and time-based addition caused occasional overfilling . The boiler was fitted with a sensor which produces an audible beep when the proper level is reached. An automatic fill feature was later added due to deteriorating client mobility. Similar devices were installe to alarm baement flooding and an out-of-balance clothes dryer. ** A HOMING PAGER has been developed for Alzheimers or other memory-impaired patients who are prone to wander undetected from home settings. The client is furnished with a small coded transmitter which sends an RF signal. If a client is missing, a search may be started immediately using a portable reciving direction finder with a range of three miles. A casual sweep of the adjacent areas provides bearing and approximate distance to aid in rapid location. This device is also useful to locate children at the beach, in crowded public areas or near farmed acreage (such as corn fields). ** A device to detect patients moving from bed at night was developed for a Senior Living center in response to excesive fall injuries. Sensors place in the bed and adjacent space detect movement typival of a patient leaving bed and silently signals an aide. The system requires no active signalling by the patient, and signals without their knowledge. Falls were reduced immediately in the subject facility. No building modifications or interface to existing wiring were required. ** A device to monitor an elderly woman living at home alone was developed in response to a client request. Sensors were placed throughout the house to monitor movement that conformed to programmed "normal activity" criteria such as no movement in the home by late morning, excessive "time on" on hotplates or oven or a door left ajar. A pendant to passively signal a lack of movement or excessive time in a prone position were deployed to provide signalling options. Device outputs include a "reset" warning to allow the monitored person to reset an alarm before remote activation, transmission to a neighbor and subsequent call using a autodialer. This device was originally designed to monitor solo offshore saiors utilizing a satellite link. ** A 35 foot cabin cruiser was modified to accomodate an amputee who desired solo fishing trips. Modifications to controls, safety equipment (seacocks), maintenance tasks, communication/navigation devices and docking/anchoring systems were completed to provide safety and convenience. All operations were modified so the sailor could operate safely without the help of additional crew. ** A system designed for a small urban bus system provides dedicated information on features at stops to aid a large number of blind clients. Pre-recorded messages on low power transmitters installed at key locations describe cross streets, shops and location of offices. Contact us for additional information RETURN TO HOME PAGE