A brief history

The term “Assistive and Rehabilitation Robotics” refers to a class of mechanical devices designed to interact with people with functional impairment and disabilities. These devices seek to improve or facilitate one’s function, and to speed up the recovery process. Most reviews in this area refer to work going back to 1960’s, when external power; electric or pneumatic; were applied to exoskeletal prostheses [1]. The Case Research Arm Aid [2, 3]; the Heidelberg arm [4]; and Rancho electric Arm [5] are early examples of this technology in its infant form. These devices moved the patient’s arm and provided user/clinician-triggered assistance and exercise. Some fundamental issues such as power source, safety and user-interface were identified as weakness of these demonstrators.

To date, many research centres in the UK have contributed to the body of knowledge in this field by undertaking research in different aspects of assistive and rehabilitation robotics. Many of these are active members of this network. Many robotics solutions have provided assistance and rehabilitation means for disabling conditions such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, and Parkinson’s disease. Technological advances have led to more flexible, safe, robust, and user-friendly devices while advances in our understanding of neuroscience of recovery has led to better understanding of the relation between repetitive practice and recovery. Yet the uptake of this technology in clinics, hospitals and individual homes has been slow. Only a handful of these technologies have made it to commercial products and even then, have received little demand partly due to high cost. Increased demand is needed to reduce the costs; to increase this demand the community (patients and their families, clinicians and carers) and industries need to be convinced of the usefulness and cost-effectiveness of this technology. A possible reason for this slow uptake is that the level of evidence in the field is at a relatively preliminary stage particularly in comparison with that provided by pharmaceutical research. Research to date has focussed on single-case studies or small randomised controlled trials often involving a single site. Another problem is that most groups in the field work in isolation and have limited awareness of the topics examined by other groups. As a consequence research is often isolated or incompletely replicated, slowing progress in the field. Due to the multi-factorial nature of the disability and impairment, a multidisciplinary solution is usually required. Clinicians, psychologists, neuroscientists, biomechanists, biomedical engineers, robotic experts, designers, statisticians, and others are required to thoroughly analyse the problem and develop innovative solutions. However, due to the relatively small funding streams available for any single study, it is difficult to bring such a large group of individuals together to cover all aspects of the problem.

1. HILLMAN, M. REHABILITATION ROBOTICS FROM PAST TO PRESENT - A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE. IN REHABILITATION ROBOTICS. 2003. DAEJEON, SOUTH KOREA: KOREA.
2. RESWICK, J.B., SYNTHETIC MUSCLE MOTOR DEVELOPMENT. 1961, S.L.: S.N.].
3. CORELL, R., RESEARCH AND DEVELPMENT OF THE CASE RESEARCH ARM AID. 1964, CASE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY.
4. KIESSLING, E., CARBON DIOXIDE AS A SOURCE OF EXTERNAL POWER FOR PROSTHETIC DEVICES IN THE APPLICATION OF EXTERNAL POWER IN PROSTHETICS AND ORTHOTICS. 1961, NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES - NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL. P. 78-87.
5. ALLEN, R.H., A. KARCHAK, V.L. NICKEL, AND R. SNELSON. THE RANCHO ELECTRIC ARM. IN 3RD ANNUAL ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIOENGINEERING SYMPOSIUM. 1966.