A novel multifunctional intelligent bed integrated with multimodal human–robot interaction approach and safe nursing methods

The authors propose a multifunctional intelligent bed (MIB) that integrates multiple modes of interaction to improve the welfare of mobility-impaired users and reduce the workload of medical personnel. The MIB features independent autonomous omnidirectional movement, position adjustment, multi-degree-of-freedom (DOF) movement regulation and posture memory functions to facilitate comfortable and convenient interaction for mobility-impaired users. In particular, an integrated “MIB-state perception-interaction interfaces” system is established, and a bed fall risk detection algorithm and assisted get-up-transfer algorithm is proposed. By recognising and sharing human body state characteristics, nursing collaboration can be achieved with caregivers or other nursing robots. Comprehensive experiments demonstrate that the MIB is a novel MIB that is highly adaptable to the environment, convenient to interact with and safe. By integrating the proposed algorithms, daily safety monitoring, assisted get-up and defecation tasks can be effectively accomplished. This technology demonstrates excellent applicability and promising prospects for implementation in hospitals, nursing centres and homes catering to elderly and disabled individuals with mobility impairments.