JP2018140081A - Movement assisting device, management device, movement assisting system, movement assisting method, and control information providing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a movement assisting device with improved convenience.SOLUTION: A device for assisting movement of a user comprises: a control information acquisition unit 116 which acquires control information preset for each user; and a control unit 118 which executes movement assisting control in accordance with the control information. In the case of using a movement assisting device 110 shared by plural users, the user can start using the movement assisting device 110 for executing the movement assisting control suited to the user, by a simple operation.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a movement assistance device, a management device, a movement assistance system, a movement assistance method, and a control information providing method.

  As a device for assisting the movement of an elderly person or a sick person, there are a walker having a plurality of legs, a walking car having wheels on a plurality of legs, and an electric walking car driven by wheels. When these devices are used, the load on the legs is reduced and walking is relatively easy. The proportion of elderly people in Japan's population is gradually increasing, and the spread of these devices is expected to accelerate in the future.

  Users of these devices are often weak or inconvenient, and various techniques have been proposed to enhance auxiliary functions. Patent Document 1 discloses a method for controlling the driving of wheels in an electric walking vehicle as such a technique.

International Publication No. 2014/188726 Pamphlet

  In some hospitals, such devices may be shared by multiple people. When the electric walking vehicle is shared, the control setting is changed every time the user changes in order to adjust the driving of the wheel to the user. The present inventor considered that there is room for improvement in terms of convenience based on such a situation.

  The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a mobility assistance device with improved convenience.

  An aspect of the present invention is an apparatus that assists the movement of a user, and executes a movement assist control according to the control information acquisition unit that acquires control information preset for each user and the control information. And a control unit. According to this aspect, the user can easily start using the movement assist device that is driven according to the control information corresponding to the user.

  Another aspect of the present invention is a management device. The management device is a device that manages a device that assists the movement of the user, and that corresponds to the storage unit that stores the control information of the device that assists the movement that is set in advance for each user and the user. And a communication unit that transmits control information to the device that assists the movement.

  Yet another aspect of the present invention is a mobility assistance system. The movement assist system includes a device that assists the movement of a user and a device that manages the device that assists the movement, and the device that assists the movement stores control information preset for each user. A communication unit that receives from the device to be managed, and a control unit that executes movement assist control according to the control information, the device to be managed includes a storage unit that stores control information for each user, and a user And a communication unit that transmits corresponding control information to the device that assists the movement.

  Yet another embodiment of the present invention is a movement assist method. The movement assistance method is a method of assisting a user of a device that assists movement, the step of acquiring control information preset for each user of the device that assists the movement, and the control information Therefore, the method includes a step of executing movement assist control.

  Yet another embodiment of the present invention is a control information providing method. This control information providing method is a method of providing control information to a device that assists the movement of the user, and the step of identifying the user of the device that assists the movement is preset for each user. Providing control information to a device that assists the movement.

  It should be noted that any combination of the above-described constituent elements, and those in which constituent elements and expressions of the present invention are mutually replaced between methods, apparatuses, systems, and the like are also effective as an aspect of the present invention.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the movement assistance apparatus with improved convenience can be provided.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the movement assistance system which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view of the movement auxiliary device concerning a 1st embodiment. It is a side view of the movement auxiliary device concerning a 1st embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of the movement assistance system which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of the movement assistance system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment.

  In the following embodiments, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted. Moreover, in each drawing, a part of component is abbreviate | omitted suitably for convenience of explanation.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a movement assistance system 100 according to the first embodiment. The mobility assistance system 100 includes a mobility assistance device 110 and a management device 120. The mobility assistant device 110 and the management device 120 are configured to be communicable via a network 130 such as the Internet.

  The movement assist device 110 is an electric walking vehicle that assists the walking of a user such as an elderly person or a sick person. The management device 120 holds control information of the movement assistance device 110 set for each user. The mobility assistant device 110 receives user authentication information and acquires control information corresponding to the user specified by the management device 120. When using the mobility assist device 110 shared by a plurality of people, the user can easily start using the mobility assist device 110 that executes the mobility assist control suitable for him / her.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the movement assist device 110, and FIG. 3 is a side view thereof. The movement assist device 110 includes a pair of main body frames 10 connected by a connection frame 12. The main body frame 10 includes a wheel frame 14 on the lower side and a handle 30 on the upper side.

  The wheel frame 14 is provided with a front wheel 22, a rear wheel 24, and a brake 31. Further, a turning motor 23 for turning the front wheel 22 and a driving motor 25 for driving the rear wheel 24 are provided. The brake 31 is connected to a brake lever 32 provided near the handle 30 via a wire 33 shown in FIG. When the brake lever 32 is pulled up, the brake 31 rotates and brakes the rear wheel 24.

  An accommodation basket 40 into which a user puts luggage is fixed to the main body frame 10 and the connection frame 12. A battery 42 for supplying power to the turning motor 23, the drive motor 25, and the like is provided at the lower portion of the housing car 40. A seat portion 46 on which a user sits is provided on the upper portion of the accommodation car 40. The main body frame 10 is also provided with a backrest 48.

  A display 50 is provided on one side of the main body frame 10 near the handle 30. The display 50 displays a map or the like on the screen. The display 50 is provided with a touch panel, and accepts an input operation from a user or an administrator.

  The movement assisting device 110 is provided with a leg detection sensor 16, a speed sensor 27, a ground sensor 28, a gyro sensor 34, and an operation force sensor 36. Each sensor can be realized by a known technique. The leg detection sensor 16 detects a user's foot that moves between the rear wheels 24. The speed sensor 27 detects the vehicle speed from the rotation of the rear wheel 24. The ground sensor 28 detects whether or not the rear wheel 24 is in contact with the ground. The gyro sensor 34 detects the tilt of the device. The operation force sensor 36 detects an operation force with which the user pushes and pulls the handle 30.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the movement assist system 100.
Each block shown in the block diagram of the present specification can be realized in terms of hardware by an element such as a CPU of a computer or a mechanical device, and can be realized by a computer program in terms of software. Describes functional blocks realized by collaboration. Therefore, those skilled in the art will understand that these functional blocks can be realized in various forms by a combination of hardware and software.

  The movement assistance device 110 includes a communication unit 112, an authentication information acquisition unit 114, a control information acquisition unit 116, a control unit 118, a usage information acquisition unit 122, and a notification unit 132.

  The communication unit 112 transmits and receives various data to and from the management device 120. The authentication information acquisition unit 114 acquires authentication information from the user. For obtaining the authentication information, a known technique such as input of an ID and password, reading of an IC card, or using biometric information can be used. The control information acquisition unit 116 acquires control information corresponding to the user authentication information from the management device 120 through the communication unit 112. The control information includes a setting value of the auxiliary driving force with respect to the operation force, a start speed of a deceleration brake that limits the vehicle speed, a use-permitted area where the user is permitted to use the movement assist device 110, a use time limit, and the like. .

  The control unit 118 executes the movement assist control according to the control information acquired from the management device 120. The control unit 118 controls the drive motor 25 so as to output the set auxiliary drive force in accordance with the operation force that the user pushes and pulls the handle 30. Further, when the vehicle speed reaches the start speed of the deceleration brake, the drive motor 25 is controlled so as to apply the brake.

  The usage information acquisition unit 122 includes a position detection unit 124, a usage time calculation unit 126, and a usage state detection unit 128. The position detection unit 124 detects the current position using a known technique such as GPS (Global Positioning System). The usage time calculation unit 126 calculates the usage time of the user. The usage state detection unit 128 detects whether or not the user is walking using the movement assisting device 110 from the output of the leg detection sensor 16. Further, the fall of the movement assist device 110 is detected from the outputs of the gyro sensor 34 and the ground sensor 28. The communication unit 112 transmits various types of usage information acquired by the usage information acquisition unit 122 to the management apparatus 120.

  The notification unit 132 notifies the user of the remaining time until the time limit or that the user has left the permitted use area. The notification unit 132 displays a message on the display 50 and outputs sound from a speaker (not shown) to notify the user. In addition, the notification unit 132 notifies the management device 120 that a problem has occurred when a predetermined time has passed in a fall state or when an emergency button (not shown) is pressed by the user. In this case, sound may be output to notify surrounding people.

  The management device 120 includes a communication unit 134, a storage unit 136, and a management unit 144. The communication unit 134 transmits / receives various data to / from the movement assist device 110. The storage unit 136 includes a control information holding unit 138 and a map information holding unit 142. The control information holding unit 138 holds authentication information and control information associated with each user. The map information holding unit 142 holds map information to be displayed on the display 50 of the movement assist device 110. The management unit 144 acquires control information corresponding to the user specified by the authentication information from the control information holding unit 138 and transmits the control information from the communication unit 134 to the mobility assist device 110.

  The operation according to the above configuration is as follows. When using the mobility assistant device 110 shared by a plurality of users, the user first inputs his / her authentication information. The mobility assistant device 110 sends the acquired authentication information to the management device 120. The management device 120 collates the authentication information to identify the user, and provides control information corresponding to the user to the movement assist device 110. The movement assist device 110 is in a state of executing movement assist control according to control information preset for each user. The operation of the user at the start of use is simplified, and the convenience of the movement assist device 110 is improved.

Hereinafter, modification techniques of the present embodiment will be described.
The movement assist device 110 may be provided with a control change receiving unit that receives a change in control information from the user. The user can adjust the settings to optimize the control. The management unit 144 may acquire control information adjusted by the user and store it in the storage unit 136. The control information adjusted by the user can be used after the next time. The control information holding unit 138 may store a plurality of pieces of control information for each user, and the user can select the control information.

  The movement assist device 110 may be provided with a health condition detection unit that detects a health condition such as a user's blood pressure, body temperature, and sweating amount. The health condition detection unit can be realized using a known technique such as a blood pressure monitor. The notification unit 132 performs notification to the administrator when the health state of the user changes. This is particularly effective when the user is weak, such as the elderly or sick. The storage unit 136 of the management device 120 may be provided with a usage status holding unit that stores usage information and health status. It can manage walking time and health condition, and can be used to understand the rehabilitation situation of sick people.

  The management device 120 may be provided with a display unit that displays usage information of the mobility assistance device 110 and a notification unit that notifies the administrator of the usage information. The notification unit performs notification to the administrator when the mobility assistance device 110 leaves the permitted use area, when it is used beyond the time limit, or when it falls down. The administrator can immediately deal with the situation by checking the position on the display unit according to the contents of the notification.

  An authentication information acquisition unit 114 may be provided in the management device 120. Processing can be simplified by omitting transmission / reception of authentication information. In addition to this, some functions of the movement assist device 110 may be provided in the management device 120. It is good also as a structure which can provide the memory | storage part 136 in the movement assistance apparatus 110, and can use the movement assistance apparatus 110 alone.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the movement assist system 200 according to the second embodiment. The movement assistance system 200 is different from the movement assistance system 100 according to the first embodiment in that a control change unit 146 is provided in the management device 120. Note that a control change unit 146 may be provided in the movement assist device 110.

  The control change unit 146 changes the content of the movement assist control executed by the control unit 118 according to the usage information of the movement assist device 110. The control change unit 146 determines whether or not the current position of the movement assist device 110 is in the use permitted area. The use-permitted area is an area approved for use by the user or administrator, and is stored together with the map information by the map information holding unit 142. Areas other than the areas where use is permitted are prohibited areas where use is prohibited. When the current position approaches a use-prohibited area, the mobile assistance control is changed to focus on staying in the use-permitted area. If the current position is in a use-prohibited area, the mobile assistance control is changed to focus on entering the use-permitted area. The control unit 118 controls the turning motor 23 and the drive motor 25 in accordance with the changed contents, and guides the movement assisting device 110 so as to stay in or enter the permitted use area by changing the traveling direction and the vehicle speed. The notification unit 132 notifies the current position of the movement assist device 110 and that the movement direction and speed are changed so that the user can respond to the movement.

  Thus, the safety of the user can be improved by changing the content of the movement assist control and guiding the movement assist apparatus 110 to the permitted use area. This is particularly effective when used by elderly people who have the potential to bother with dementia.

  The control change unit 146 may change the content of the movement assist control so as to return to the management base when the use limit time set in advance by the administrator approaches or exceeds. In this case, a route setting unit for setting a route to the management base is provided. The route setting unit can be realized by a known technique used in a car navigation system or the like. The control unit 118 controls each unit so that the movement assisting device 110 moves along the route. The alerting | reporting part 132 alert | reports to a user that it moves toward the management base and the remaining time until use time limit. It is effective when used by elderly people who may be hesitant or patients who go out of the hospital. This is also effective when the administrator lends the mobility assistance device 110 for a fee.

  The health state detection unit described in the first embodiment may be provided in the movement assist device 110, and the control change unit 146 may change the content of the movement assist control in accordance with the health state. The control change unit 146 changes the content of the movement assist control so that the user moves to the management base or the hospital when the health state of the user changes. It is effective when the user is elderly or sick. In this case, the storage unit 136 of the management device 120 may be provided with a usage status holding unit that stores usage information and health status. It can manage the user's walking time and health condition such as blood pressure, and can be used for grasping the rehabilitation situation.

  The present invention has been described based on the embodiments. This embodiment is an exemplification, and it is understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to the respective constituent elements or combinations of the respective treatment processes, and such modifications are also within the scope of the present invention. By the way.

  In the embodiment, the case has been described in which the movement assist device is an electric walking vehicle including a plurality of wheels that are respectively driven. The movement assist device according to the present invention may be a movable wand or a walker in which a plurality of legs move, so-called silver car, as long as at least a part of the movement assist device assists the movement of the user by electric power. It may be a vehicle such as a wheelchair on which the user rides.

  100, 200 Mobility assistance system, 110 Mobility assistance device, 114 Authentication information acquisition unit, 116 Control information acquisition unit, 118 Control unit, 120 Management device, 122 Usage information acquisition unit, 132 Notification unit, 136 Storage unit, 146 Control change unit .

Claims (17)

A device for assisting the movement of the user,
A control information acquisition unit that acquires control information set in advance for each user;
A control unit that executes movement assist control according to the control information;
A movement auxiliary device comprising:   The movement assistance apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control information acquisition unit acquires the control information from an apparatus that manages control information for each user. It further includes an authentication information acquisition unit for acquiring user authentication information,
The movement assistance apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control information acquisition unit acquires control information corresponding to a user specified by authentication information from the managing apparatus. An authentication information acquisition unit for acquiring user authentication information;
A storage unit that stores control information for each user;
The movement assistance apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control information acquisition unit acquires control information corresponding to a user specified by authentication information from the storage unit.   The movement assistance apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a usage information acquisition unit that acquires usage information by a user.   The movement assistance apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a notification unit that performs notification to a user according to the use information.   The movement assistance device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the usage information acquisition unit transmits the usage information to a device that manages a usage status.   The movement assistance apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a control change unit that changes contents of movement assistance control according to the use information.   The movement assistance device according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the usage information includes at least one of a position of the device, a usage time by the user, and a usage state by the user. A device that manages a device that assists the movement of the user,
A storage unit that stores control information of the device that assists the movement set in advance for each user;
A communication unit that transmits control information corresponding to a user to the device that assists the movement;
A management apparatus comprising: An authentication information acquisition unit that acquires authentication information of a user of the device that assists the movement;
The management apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the communication unit transmits control information corresponding to a user specified by authentication information.   The management device according to claim 10, further comprising a notification unit that performs notification to a manager according to user usage information received from the device that assists the movement.   The management apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a control change unit that changes a content of movement assist control executed by the apparatus that assists the movement according to the use information. A movement assistance system comprising a device for assisting a user's movement and a device for managing the device for assisting the movement,
The device for assisting movement includes a communication unit that receives control information preset for each user from the device for managing, and a control unit that performs movement assist control according to the control information,
The management device includes a storage unit that stores control information for each user, and a communication unit that transmits control information corresponding to the user to the device that assists the movement. A method for assisting a user of a device for assisting movement,
Acquiring preset control information for each user of the device assisting the movement;
And a step of executing movement assistance control according to the control information.   The movement assisting method according to claim 15, further comprising a step of identifying a user of the device that assists the movement. A method for providing control information to a device that assists a user in movement,
Identifying a user of the device to assist in the movement;
Providing control information preset for each user to the device for assisting the movement;
A control information providing method comprising:

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