Remote Rehabilitation System Capable of Sharing Somatosensory Sensations

Kunihiro Ogata, Takuto Nakamura, Shusuke Kanazawa, Taiki Nobeshima, Hideaki Kuzuoka, Takeshi Kurata

Abstract: Elderly individuals may develop health issues related to the decline in motor function as they age, often requiring rehabilitation to improve their mobility. In order to provide high-quality rehabilitation to a larger population, this study aims to develop remote rehabilitation technology that allows for the sharing of somatosensory sensations. To facilitate the sharing of somatosensory sensations, wearable technology capable of posture acquisition and force feedback, as well as a sensor mannequin capable of capturing touch patterns, were developed. Through the system’s operational validation experiments, it was demonstrated that it is possible to instruct the experimental participant wearing the wearable devices based on the sensory feedback provided by the sensor mannequin. This confirms the feasibility of remote rehabilitation support through this system.