Stand-Up Support Chair Control Using Robot Handle Load Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices that assist stand-up motion from a chair, such as those described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publications 2012-200409 and 2011-10874, do not effectively reduce the physical burden on users and ensure smooth posture transition during standing up, as they rely solely on the robot or chair's functionality without integrated communication and control systems.
Innovation Solution
A living support system connected to a chair through a communication network, comprising a robot with a movable main body, a handle, a handle load detector, and a support control device that calculates and controls the seat movement speed based on detected handle loads, ensuring smooth posture transition by adjusting the seat's inclination and movement in synchronization with the user's posture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a robot or chair alone assists stand-up motion, then the device structure is simple, but the physical burden on the user is not effectively reduced and posture transition is not smooth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a robot system and a chair system into an integrated living support system. The robot includes a main body, moving device, handle, and handle load detector, while the chair includes a movable seat and seat moving device. These systems are connected via a communication network and coordinated through a support control device to provide unified assistance during stand-up motion, thereby reducing user burden while distributing system complexity across multiple components.
Solution Approach 2:
The support control device serves multiple functions: it receives handle load information from the robot, calculates seat movement speed based on this load, transmits control information to the chair, and coordinates the synchronized operation of both robot and chair. This multi-functional control unit enables the system to adapt to different user needs and motion stages without requiring separate control systems.
2Ease of operation
If the chair moves the seat without synchronized control, then the chair operation is simple, but smooth posture transition cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The support control device receives handle load information from the handle load detector in real-time during the stand-up motion. Based on this feedback, the control device calculates the appropriate seat movement speed and adjusts the chair's seat moving device accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures the chair responds dynamically to user actions, enabling smooth posture transition while maintaining coordinated operation between robot and chair.
Solution Approach 2:
The seat movement speed is not fixed but is dynamically calculated by the support control device based on the detected handle load. As the user pulls on the handle during stand-up, the varying load information triggers corresponding adjustments in seat movement speed, allowing the system to adapt to different stages of the motion and provide optimally smooth transition throughout the entire stand-up process.
3Productivity
If the handle load is not detected and used for control, then the device structure is simple, but the seat movement speed cannot be optimized based on user effort
Solution Approach 1:
The handle load detector in the robot continuously monitors the force applied by the user on the handle during stand-up motion. This load information is transmitted to the support control device, which uses it as feedback to calculate and adjust the seat movement speed. This feedback loop enables the system to optimize assistance efficiency by matching seat movement to the user's actual effort in real-time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct mechanical linkage between the robot and chair with a communication network-based information transmission system. Instead of mechanical coupling, the handle load detector electronically measures user force, transmits this data digitally through the communication network to the support control device, which then independently calculates and controls seat movement. This substitution enables sophisticated control based on detected loads while avoiding complex mechanical transmission mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A living support system connected to a chair including a movable seat through a communication network includes a robot including a main body, a moving device that moves the main body in a freestanding state, a handle provided at the main body and gripped by a user, and a handle load detector that detects a handle load applied to the handle by the user; a support control device that controls seat movement for a stand-up motion of the sitting user, using the detected handle load; and a communicator that transmits support control information including a movement speed at which the chair moves the movable seat, to the chair through the communication network. The support control device includes a seat speed calculator that calculates a speed at which the movable seat is inclined with respect to a floor on which the chair is placed, as the movement speed using the detected handle load.