Movement. Teh and NRNU MEPhI: Robokhod Motorized medical simulator

2025: Creation of a motorized medical simulator "Robohod"

Employees of the company "Movia.Tech" together with scientists and students of NRNU MEPhI are working on the creation of a motorized medical simulator for people with problems of motor activity. MEPhI announced this on April 24, 2025.

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Фото: NRNU MEPhI

The design bureau "Move.Tech" equipped the wheels of the orbitrek (elliptical simulator). Thus, it became possible not only to train on it, but also to move around at the same time, for example, combining sports with a walk.

However, this was not enough, and the company's employees had the idea to turn the sports simulator into a rehabilitation one, helping patients with spinal injuries, strokes or cerebral palsy to restore mobility. So the concept of the simulator "Robokhod" was born. To implement the idea, the company turned to the MEPhI National Research Nuclear University for help.

In order to turn a sports simulator into a medical one, it must be equipped with electric motors that will help the patient move on the simulator even if the person's muscles are weakened and some phases of movement with his hands and feet are difficult or inaccessible. The difficulty is that the motor should be "smart," sensitive to the needs of the patient: it should not just move the simulator instead of a person, but help only in cases where the patient is experiencing difficulties.

Another important element of the rehabilitation orbiter is a special frame that supports the patient engaged in the simulator in an upright position.

Verticalization is very important, because it is necessary that the blood walks correctly throughout the body, - said Lev Novikov. - Blood flow of bedridden patients has to be accelerated by massage. There are verticalizers that simply put a person in a vertical position, but it is difficult to stand motionless for a long time. And in motion you can be vertically for an hour.

In addition, the simulator is equipped with a remote control so that the movement of the orbital track with the patient can be controlled from the outside by a doctor or relative of the patient. Some patients are poorly coordinated and need help. And a medical simulator, unlike a sports one, needs brakes.

According to the authors of the idea, the presence of wheels in the simulator is very important for the disabled, who, thanks to the simulator, can "go to people" - at least walk around the hospital.

Tests of the simulator will be held on the basis of the ANO "Children's Scientific and Practical Center for Physical Rehabilitation and Sports" GROSSKO, "with which relevant agreements have already been reached.