Transfer Assist Apparatus Posture Control via Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Transfer assist apparatuses face challenges in quickly and accurately controlling the posture of holder devices, leading to potential discomfort for care recipients due to operator errors or prolonged operation times.
Innovation Solution
A transfer assist apparatus with an arm structure featuring a first and second joint, a holder portion, a manipulation handle, and drive mechanisms, controlled by a system that maintains the holder's posture within a predetermined acceptable range using input information and angle data from sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the degree of freedom in the control of the posture of the holder device increases, then the flexibility and adaptability of the apparatus is improved, but the risk of causing pain to the care recipient increases due to operator errors
Solution Approach 1:
The control portion receives operation amount information from the manipulation handle and uses this feedback to automatically adjust the joint angles. The system continuously monitors the holder device's posture and makes real-time corrections based on the operation amount, ensuring the posture remains within the acceptable range without requiring manual intervention or risking operator error.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus performs self-regulation of its own posture through the control portion that automatically adjusts joint angles based on the manipulation handle's operation amount. The system serves itself by maintaining proper posture without external intervention, eliminating the need for operator skill and reducing the risk of human error.
2Reliability
If the care giver operates the apparatus very carefully to avoid causing pain, then the safety is improved, but the operation time increases considerably
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses real-time feedback from the manipulation handle to automatically maintain the holder device within the acceptable posture range. This continuous automatic adjustment eliminates the need for careful manual operation by the caregiver, ensuring safety while reducing operation time since the apparatus self-corrects any posture deviations.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus performs self-regulation to maintain safe posture automatically, freeing the caregiver from the burden of manual control. The system's autonomous posture maintenance ensures safety without requiring prolonged careful operation, thereby reducing the time loss associated with cautious manual handling.
3Loss of time
If the control system automatically maintains posture within acceptable range, then the operation time is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control portion uses a relatively simple feedback mechanism that monitors the manipulation handle's operation amount and automatically adjusts joint angles. This feedback loop maintains posture within the acceptable range without requiring complex algorithms or multiple sensors, achieving time reduction with minimal added complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus implements self-regulation through a straightforward control mechanism that responds to the manipulation handle's input. The system's autonomous posture maintenance is achieved through basic automatic adjustment rather than complex artificial intelligence or multiple control layers, minimizing the increase in device complexity while still reducing operation time.
Data Source
AI summary
A transfer assist apparatus includes: an arm portion that has a first joint and a second joint; a holder portion linked to the arm portion; a manipulation handle for manipulating the position and the posture of the holder portion; a first drive mechanism that drives the first joint; a second drive mechanism that drives the second joint; and a control portion that controls the first drive mechanism and the second drive mechanism so that the posture of the holder portion is maintained in a predetermined acceptable range, based on information that is input from the manipulation handle, and angle information regarding the first joint and the second joint.