Assistive robotics
Societies in industrialised and developing countries are facing a variety of similar challenges, ranging from aging populations and a greater emphasis on inclusion to rising demand for independent living solutions. Assistive robotics for people with special needs make an important contribution to overcoming these challenges. This dynamic sub-field of robotics focuses on the development of robotic systems that help people with disabilities and those needing assistance in their everyday lives. These systems also support the recovery and rehabilitation of individuals whose condition requires assistance. Between 2001 and 2021, the number of all patent families related to assistive robotics increased by a factor of over 20.
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Assistive robotics for people with special needs report
This report explores six robotic concepts: collaborative robots (“cobots”), therapeutic robots, robotic walkers, assistive exoskeletons, robotic mobile platforms and humanoid and pet robots.
Case study on PERCEIVE3D: Disrupting surgical navigation
A research project to improve surgical navigation combined with the entrepreneurial mindset of the lead researcher at the University of Coimbra in Portugal led to the creation of Perceive3D.
Innovation and impact in figures:
EUR 10 billion
estimated global sales revenue in 2024
Over 20%
annual growth rate expected in the years ahead
17 million
Children worldwide are expected to benefit from robotic exoskeletons
Q&A: insights from the EPO
- Animal-shaped robots are good for entertaining children, but is that all?
Far from it. Although animal-shaped robots were initially mainly created for entertainment purposes, psychologists realised that these robots can be very useful for mentally impaired people and also help to address sensorial needs. Their charming and friendly appearance mean that they are more readily accepted when it comes to training and learning tasks.
Engineers and researchers have not just been working on animal-shaped but also on humanoid robots. Inventions related to both concepts initially experienced a modest upswing two decades ago, but it wasn’t until the past decade that the number of inventions with international outreach increased sharply; with the figure increasing more than fivefold between 2014 and 2020.
Number of inventions with international outreach related to humanoid and animal-shaped robots. The chart shows the number of inventions for selected sub-topics as a function of the year in which the invention was made publicly available for the first time.
- Is there a single robotic concept that addresses all needs and target groups?
No. There is a variety of different robotic concepts with specific strengths and areas of application. The EPO’s insight report on assistive robotics for people with special needs looks into six robotic concepts:
- Cobots:
- Therapeutic robots
- Robotic walkers
- Assistive exoskeletons
- Robotic mobile platforms
- Humanoid and pet robots
The EPO’s insight report on assistive robotics for people with special needs identified the individual profiles of the six robotic concepts in terms of purpose, nature of the needs addressed and the target audience.
- The field of assistive robotics for people with special needs is technologically interesting, but is it more of a niche area?
Assistive robotics for people with special needs is not just interesting from a technological point of view. This field of technology already represents an important market and is expected to grow very dynamically, with estimated global sales revenue of over 10 billion US dollars in 2024 and a predicted annual growth rate of over 20% in the coming years. On top of this, the number of inventions in the field have recently increased at a rate significantly above that observed across all fields of technology combined. Between 2001 and 2021 the number of all patent families related to assistive robotics increased by a factor of over twenty, versus a less than sixfold increase across all fields of technology over the same period.
Number of inventions with international outreach in the area of assistive robotics for people with special needs per year when the invention was made available for the first time (left scale). For comparison, the chart also shows the development across all technical fields combined (right scale).
Publications
Dive into a collection of insightful reports and case studies focused on robotics.
This report explores six robotic concepts: collaborative robots (“cobots”), therapeutic robots, robotic walkers, assistive exoskeletons, robotic mobile platforms and humanoid and pet robots.
A research project to improve surgical navigation combined with the entrepreneurial mindset of the lead researcher at the University of Coimbra in Portugal led to the creation of Perceive3D.
Podcasts
Robotics exoskeletons for kids: more than a medical device
Elena García Armada invented a robotic exoskeleton for children who use wheelchairs, vastly improving their rehabilitation. However, going from lab to market was no mean feat. The Spanish robotics expert had to navigate clinical testing, impress investors, learn about intellectual property and attract world-class engineers to work on her ambitious project.
Patents in progress: our robotic helpers
Robots have often been portrayed in science fiction as posing a threat to humans. Today, robots and robotic manipulators are indispensable to industry and are increasingly used in services and domestic settings too. Meet Stéphane Lumineau to learn more about roboethics, the role of artificial intelligence in robot development and the degree to which robots can adopt a human touch.
Insights into the medical technology boom
The talk highlights the significant increase in patent applications in medical technologies over the past decade emphasizing the role of interdisciplinary collaboration, advancements in material science, as well as the role of robotics and AI in driving innovation. Persistence and the ability to iterate inventions quickly are crucial, as is consulting patents in order to build upon earlier advancements in science.
Inventors empowering lives through robotics
Khaoula Ben Ahmed, Ghofrane Ayari, Souleima Ben Temime and Sirine Ayari
MOOVOBRAIN, an all-in-one smart wheelchair control solution that enables individuals with severe disabilities to navigate independently. The technology provides a mobile application and an electronic interface that integrate seamlessly with existing electric wheelchairs, processing signals from a smartphone to guide movement. While several competing products offer one method of control, MOOVOBRAIN offers four distinct modes, catering to a wide range of disabilities.
Elena García Armada
Spanish professor Elena García has developed an adaptable robotic exoskeleton for children who use wheelchairs. The exoskeleton enables the children to walk during muscle rehabilitation therapy, improving their well-being and extending their life expectancy.
Malcolm Begemann, Willem Boute, Marijn Van Gemert
In 1995, a patent was published by Dutch inventors Malcolm Begemann, Willem Boute and Marijn Van Gemert that had a dramatic effect on the quality of life experienced by pacemaker users. It was while working at Netherlands-based Vitatron that the innovators created a pacemaker with dynamic, non-linear rate responsiveness - a product which was able to adapt to individual patients and adapt to their history.