The development of handy 1. A robotic system to assist the severely disabled

The Handy 1 is a rehabilitation robot designed to enable people with severe disability to gain/regain independence in important daily living activities such as: eating, drinking, washing, shaving, teeth cleaning and applying make-up. Dependency upon health care staff, particularly in public institutions, where volume dictates the level of personal attention, can have a significant effect on the well being and quality of life of the individual. The introduction of systems such as Handy 1 has a dual purpose: it enables greater personal activity for persons with severe disabilities, thus leading to an increased level of independence; and helps to reduce the demand on caretakers for individualized, intensive assistance.