Breathing Guidance Robot With Respiratory Rhythm Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing robots lack the ability to naturally guide breathing to relax users, which is essential for activating the parasympathetic nervous system.
Innovation Solution
A robot equipped with an exterior member, a detector to acquire breathing information, and a controller to guide breathing to a predetermined state based on the acquired information, utilizing sensors and actuators to synchronize respiratory rhythms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a robot is designed to interact with users to provide comfort, then user engagement and interaction quality are improved, but the ability to naturally guide breathing and activate parasympathetic nervous system is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The robot employs a respiratory sensor to detect the user's respiratory rate and feeds this information back to the controller. The controller then adjusts the expansion-contraction mechanism to match the detected breathing rhythm, creating a feedback loop that enables natural and effective breathing guidance. This closed-loop control ensures the robot adapts to individual user breathing patterns, improving both naturalness and effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The robot implements periodic expansion and contraction of its body surface through the expansion-contraction mechanism, synchronized with the user's breathing rhythm. This periodic action mimics natural breathing cycles, creating a soothing effect that helps guide the user's breathing to a relaxed state and activates the parasympathetic nervous system.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a respiratory sensor and expansion-contraction mechanism are integrated into the robot body, then breathing guidance functionality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robot body serves multiple functions: it acts as both the structural framework and the interface for breathing guidance. The expansion-contraction mechanism is integrated into the body surface, allowing the same structure to provide both mechanical support and respiratory guidance. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components, thereby managing complexity while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The respiratory sensor and expansion-contraction mechanism are merged into a single integrated system within the robot body. The sensor detects breathing parameters while the actuator simultaneously provides tactile feedback through body expansion and contraction. This merging of detection and actuation functions into a unified system reduces overall complexity compared to having separate independent systems.
Data Source
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AI summary
A robot configured to naturally guide breathing for a user is provided. The robot according to one aspect of the present invention is a robot configured to guide breathing for a user, and includes: an exterior member; a first detector configured to acquire information on the breathing of the user; and a controller configured to control an operation of the robot so as to guide the breathing of the user to a predetermined state based on the information acquired by the first detector.