Mechanism Design and Mechatronic Control of a Multifunctional Test Bed for Bedridden Healthcare

This paper discusses the mechanism design and mechatronic control of a multifunctional test bed for testing and evaluating healthcare activities designed for assisting bedridden people. The test bed consists of a set of two robotic beds: one main bed and one nursing bed. The main bed is designated for posture changing and the nursing bed is for transportation. Both beds are also equipped with a belt system for transferring the body between them. The design concept of the bed system is formulated based on the field study of similar apparatus in hospitals. The two beds are then manufactured and controlled by a systematically designed mechatronic system and can be interacted through a specially designed graphical user interface program. Related experimental evaluations are illustrated extensively. The proposed test bed is designated for mechatronic engineers and healthcare personnel simultaneously to better assist the daily life of a bedridden person. The evaluation results indicate the effectiveness of the bed system.