AsiaIndustrial NetNews: Toyota is introducing a newrobotThe leg brace, named “Welwalk-WW-1000”, can help partially paralyzed patients unable to walk on half of their legs to walk again.The Robotic brace is placed on the patient’s paralyzed leg, and there is a largemotorIt can provide enough support to the patient, so that the patient can gradually restore his ability to walk.
The wearable robotic device is combined with a custom treadmill, a set that is fixed over the patient, and medical staff can view and control the entire device through a convenient touchscreen. The Associated Press reported that later this year, Japanese medical institutions will provide the Welwalk system to medical institutions in Japan on a leased model for a one-time fee of about $9,000, followed by a monthly fee of $3,200. The cost of Toyota’s equipment is not onerous by the standard of medical equipment, and the equipment may greatly shorten the recovery time of patients, and help these patients who are partially paralyzed due to strokes and other reasons.
The patient’s recovery time is controlled by adjusting the strength of the device’s support, and for partially paralyzed patients, their reliance on the device’s support is gradually reduced during the treatment process until they are able to walk independently again. Toyota’s robotic stand includes built-in sensors that know exactly how much support to give a patient at any given moment, ensuring that patients don’t become overly reliant on equipment support, or start training before they’re ready, which could cause a patient Injured again.
Toyota has been working on robotics research and development for many years, and its Toyota Research Institute division is mainly responsible for developing technologies to improve the independent living ability of the elderly. Last year, Hyundai also showcased a range of personal-enablement wearables, which could be the focus of the automaker’s attention and business focus as it shifts to overall mobility rather than transportation.
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