Shimatani K1, Shima K2, Sakata M2, Mitani R2
1Prefectural Universitiy of Hiroshima, Department of Physical Therapy, Mihara, Japan, 2Yokohama National University, Division of Intelligent Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Yokohama, Japan
Background: In standing and walking control, the relationship linking the visual, somatosensory, and vestibular systems with physical movement is crucial. Previous studies have reported that somatosensory fingertip input (light touch contact [LTC]) from an external reference provides spatial orientation. Visually impaired people, who rely on guide blocks, guide dogs, or canes when they are standing and walking outside, often make requests for consultations regarding unstable walking and poor postural control. However, no appropriate method currently exists to support visually impaired people during standing and walking alone.
Purpose: Investigate the usefulness of drones in improving postural control during quiet standing.
Methods: The participants were 8 young adults (4 females and 4 males, 22.0 ± 2.6 years). The drone used was a TELLO model (Ryze Tech). A Kinect 2 (Microsoft) and a Wii Balance Board (Nintendo) were used to determine the center of mass (COM) and center of pressure (COP). Two conditions, both performed in quiet standing and with eyes closed, were set: with or without drone support. Drone support was provided by having participants grasp a one-meter string attached to the drone, the latter hovering over the participants' head. Both conditions were performed three times. Body sway was calculated using COP (total sway length, rectangular area, average velocity, and average vector) and COM (trunk stability limits [TSL] and average lateral direction velocity). Data from the conditions with and without drone support were compared between.
Results: Drone support significantly reduced the rectangular area of COP (p 0.05) and average lateral direction velocity of COM (p 0.01). All the other parameters were not significantly different.
Conclusion(s): Adding drone support decreased body sway during quiet standing in healthy young adults. More specifically, drone support reduced the range of lateral sway. The increase in postural stability by TLC is thought to rely on an increased amount of feedback, especially from the somatosensory system. Similarly, the observed increase in postural stability by adding drone support might be due to an increase in feedback from the somatosensory system.
Implications: Our previous studies have indicated that attitude control strategy changes in response to somatosensory information provided by the physical connection with the balloon. In the present study, the results suggest that somatosensory information gained by grasping the string of the drone hovering overhead can guide human posture. Future studies should investigate if drones can be used instead of guide dogs as a walking aid for visually impaired people.
Keywords: Drone, quiet standing, human postural control
Funding acknowledgements: This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI (Grant Number 16K13074).
Purpose: Investigate the usefulness of drones in improving postural control during quiet standing.
Methods: The participants were 8 young adults (4 females and 4 males, 22.0 ± 2.6 years). The drone used was a TELLO model (Ryze Tech). A Kinect 2 (Microsoft) and a Wii Balance Board (Nintendo) were used to determine the center of mass (COM) and center of pressure (COP). Two conditions, both performed in quiet standing and with eyes closed, were set: with or without drone support. Drone support was provided by having participants grasp a one-meter string attached to the drone, the latter hovering over the participants' head. Both conditions were performed three times. Body sway was calculated using COP (total sway length, rectangular area, average velocity, and average vector) and COM (trunk stability limits [TSL] and average lateral direction velocity). Data from the conditions with and without drone support were compared between.
Results: Drone support significantly reduced the rectangular area of COP (p 0.05) and average lateral direction velocity of COM (p 0.01). All the other parameters were not significantly different.
Conclusion(s): Adding drone support decreased body sway during quiet standing in healthy young adults. More specifically, drone support reduced the range of lateral sway. The increase in postural stability by TLC is thought to rely on an increased amount of feedback, especially from the somatosensory system. Similarly, the observed increase in postural stability by adding drone support might be due to an increase in feedback from the somatosensory system.
Implications: Our previous studies have indicated that attitude control strategy changes in response to somatosensory information provided by the physical connection with the balloon. In the present study, the results suggest that somatosensory information gained by grasping the string of the drone hovering overhead can guide human posture. Future studies should investigate if drones can be used instead of guide dogs as a walking aid for visually impaired people.
Keywords: Drone, quiet standing, human postural control
Funding acknowledgements: This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI (Grant Number 16K13074).
Topic: Health promotion & wellbeing/healthy ageing; Robotics & technology; Human movement analysis
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: Prefectural University of Hiroshima
Ethics committee: Ethics Committee of Prefectural University of Hiroshima
Ethics number: No.15MH070
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
