Gangnam District Pilots 'Wearable Robot' Exercise Program for Seniors

Joint Research with Seoul City and Angel Robotics
Walking with Advanced Robots at Public Facilities

"Protecting Senior Citizens' Health with Innovative Technology."

Gangnam District in Seoul is piloting a wearable robot exercise program at public facilities to support walking functions for seniors. After being selected for the Seoul-type research and development (R&D) support project last year, the district is now moving forward with full-scale field implementation at the Gangnam Well-Aging Center this year.

Gangnam residents practicing walking while wearing wearable robots. Provided by Gangnam District.

This project is part of the "2024 Robot Technology Smart Robot Zone Project," jointly promoted by Gangnam District and Angel Robotics Co., Ltd., in collaboration with the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Business Agency. The initiative focuses on the development and demonstration of robot technology based on public demand.

The wearable robot is a lightweight device, weighing less than 3 kilograms, and is worn around the waist and thighs. It recognizes a variety of movements performed by seniors and provides optimized assistance for each motion, helping to strengthen lower body muscles and improve walking stability.

The program takes place on a specialized walking track inside the Gangnam Well-Aging Center. It is offered to seniors aged 65 and older who experience difficulties with daily walking, and consists of 12 sessions, held once a week for one hour each. Exercise intensity is gradually adjusted from low to high, and both a robot engineer and a physical therapist are present on site to ensure safety. Following the pilot operation in the first half of the year (April to June), the program will be expanded in the second half (July to December).

Gangnam District Mayor Cho Sungmyung stated, "We will actively discover service robots that enhance residents' daily convenience, so that everyone can easily and conveniently benefit from robot technology in public facilities. We will continue to build a robot-friendly city where robot technology naturally becomes part of residents' lives."