The Glider Project

Addressing challenges in frailty through robotics, play and immersive technology
The Glider
Title: The Glider Project
Funded by: University of Nottingham as part of EMERGENCE, funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
Funding amount: £31,053
Location: University of Plymouth and University of the West of England Bristol
Dates: 1 July 2024 – 31 January 2025
Project partners: University of the West of England
University of Plymouth PI/Co-I: Dr Michael Loizou
 

Summary

The University of Plymouth's Centre for Health Technology (CHT) is spearheading this innovative project which addresses challenges in frailty through robotics, play and immersive technology.
This is in response to a £5 million funding call issued by the University of Nottingham, as part of a larger initiative funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) called EMERGENCE, which aims to advance research into robotics to manage and reduce frailty. The University of the West of England at Bristol also collaborates on this effort, with contributions from the CHT’s Dr Michael Loizhou, Dr Om Prakash Singh, Dr Swen Gaudl and Dr Marius Varga (whose original concept of the Glider was conceived over a decade ago).

This research project has the potential to make a real difference in the lives of people living with frailty.

Michael LoizouDr Michael Loizou
Associate Professor in Digital Health

Context of the issue

People experiencing frailty, particularly in care homes, struggle to improve their mobility because:
  1. typical exercise equipment is not tailored to their needs
  2. typical exercise equipment can be unsafe for them to use
  3. typical exercise equipment may not be enjoyable or fun.
This leads to increased frailty.
Elderly woman looking out of a window

How the project addresses the issue

The project is divided into two stages:
Stage 1 is focused on creating a Glider prototype to assess its viability as an immersive, novel, low-impact exercise activity.
In stage 2, through co-design, we look to improve the Glider assembly to make it more suitable to older age users, to improve the visuals and audio and also to include a robotic system which will assist the user in operating the Glider where they struggle to do so. This will ensure that even people with advanced levels of frailty will be able to use the Glider for exercise.
The Glider

The Glider

The Glider uses immersive technology with low-impact physical exercises to enhance mobility. Inspired by the concept of a hang-glider, users sit in a harness and pull strings to simulate navigation while a large screen displays a virtual environment with audio. This approach integrates physical activity and cognitive stimulation to create an immersive environment without relying on VR headsets.
The Glider
The Glider
The Glider

Key project activities

  • First workshop: demonstration of the Glider's mechanics to care home staff and professionals to gather initial feedback on its usability.
  • Second workshop: enhanced demonstration incorporating feedback, featuring immersive visuals of different environments.
  • Online focus groups: presentation of findings and device iterations.
  • Broader engagement with professionals and others to refine the technology further.
  • Testing and certification: compliance with Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) to ensure safety and functionality for frail users. Testing will take place in collaboration with the University of Bristol and partner care facilities.

Pilot study and future goals

This project serves as a pilot for evaluating the Glider's potential in rehabilitation settings. While care home residents are not directly testing the device yet due to safety considerations, they provide valuable feedback on the visuals and potential applications. Insights from workshops and focus groups will guide further development and academic publications, strengthening future funding applications to institutions like the University of Nottingham and the University of Reading.

Vision and long-term impact

In 2025, the team aims to apply for more funding to continue the amazing work already done on the Glider. The project aspires to transform rehabilitation for frail individuals, integrating physical engagement with immersive experiences to enhance quality of life and improve mobility.

Centre for Health Technology

Bringing together digital health and health technology expertise from across the University to drive the development, evaluation and implementation of innovative technologies, products, services and approaches to transform health and social care.
Online tele medicine isometric concept. Medical consultation and treatment via application of smartphone connected internet clinic.