Sales starting of Honda Walking Assist Device

Tokyo, Japan – Honda Motor Co. Ltd. officials announced plans to begin lease sales of the Honda Walking Assist Device – an assistive device for use in rehabilitation of walking - to hospitals and rehabilitation facilities throughout Japan. Lease sales are scheduled to begin in November 2015.

The Walking Assist Device helps users walk more efficiently based on the inverted pendulum model, which is a theory of bipedal walking, and is designed as a device to be used in walking therapy/training under the guidance of a doctor and/or therapist.

Striving to offer the joy of mobility to more people, Honda began the research and development of the Walking Assist Device in 1999. Honda has leveraged the theory of human walking amassed from research and development of ASIMO, Honda’s advanced humanoid robot.

Since 2013, with the cooperation of approximately 50 hospitals and other facilities in Japan, a limited number of the Walking Assist Device have already been in use, which enabled Honda to optimize its functions.

Honda is beginning lease sales of the Walking Assist Device to make it available for more hospitals and facilities across Japan.

• Lease sales plan (in Japan/first year): 450 units leased
• Lease price: 45,000 yen per month (362 U.S. dollars per month), 36-month lease contract (including the expenses of an annual periodic maintenance check and a training session for two trainees with the actual device)

Key features

• Compact  size  and  lightweight  achieved  with  thin  motors  and  a  control  system developed independently by Honda
• Simple belt structure makes it easier for the user to put on and off.
• Size-adjustable frames allow more people with various body sizes/types to use.
• Measuring function visualizes unique walking patterns and training status of each user on a tablet–like information device
• Three training modes
  • Following mode: The Walking Assist Device assists the user’s walking motions based on the walking pattern of the user.
  • Symmetric mode: Based on the walking patterns of the user, the Walking Assist Device influences the user to achieve bilaterally symmetric motions such as bending and extending both legs.
  • Step mode: The Walking Assist Device influences the user’s steps repeatedly to recover the rocker functions* which enable the smooth shifting of weight.
    • *Rocker functions are leg motions, which enable smooth shifting of weight from heel to sole and sole to toe.

Key Specifications of the Walking Assist Device

Source: Honda North America