A robot which patients are calling Roberta is doing physiotherapy in a hospital in Canada. Two physio’s and an engineer designed the machine, which resembles a crane, to assist stroke victims get the use of their arms back.
It is a similar concept as the nintendo wii reported a couple of months ago, in that the patient is playing a game. The object is to catch a bouncing ball. Physiotherapists decide to what degree the person must move their own arm to catch the ball, or if the machine will do all the work. One patient said “it is the sort of game you don’t want to stop until you get it right.” This obviously helps develop the frame of mind needed to assist with recovery.
Roberta The Robot in action
