University of British Columbia scientists have built a revolutionary “body-swap” robot that reveals how the brain interprets space and time to keep us upright, with findings that could help reduce fall risk for millions of people. The research, published today in Science Robotics, demonstrates that the brain treats delays in sensory feedback similarly to changes in body mechanics—a discovery that could lead to new assistive devices for older adults.
The towering robotic platform, developed by UBC’s School of Kinesiology in collaboration with Erasmus MC, allows researchers to fundamentally alter the physical laws governing human balance in real-time. Participants stand on force plates attached to a backboard driven by high-precision motors that manipulate the three key forces controlling stance: gravity, inertia, and viscosity.
“The robot lets us rewrite the rules your body normally plays by,” said senior author Dr. Jean-Sébastien Blouin, professor in UBC’s School of Kinesiology. “In an instant, you’re moving under a completely different set of physical laws—almost like stepping into a different body.”
The system can introduce sensory delays of about 200 milliseconds—roughly the blink of an eye—by briefly holding the body still after movement initiation. This mimics the slowed nerve signals experienced by older adults or those with conditions like diabetic neuropathy and multiple sclerosis. “Imagine steering a car when the wheel responds half a second late,” said Dr. Blouin, highlighting the challenge of maintaining balance with delayed feedback.
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In a series of three experiments with 20 participants, the team made a crucial discovery. When they introduced sensory delays, participants swayed dramatically, often exceeding virtual fall limits. Remarkably, when they adjusted body mechanics by lowering inertia or applying negative viscosity, participants became equally unstable and reported similar sensations to balancing with delays. This provided the first evidence that the brain interprets spatial and temporal challenges in overlapping ways.
The most promising finding came when researchers tested whether mechanical adjustments could compensate for neural delays. With ten new participants who had never used the system, the team introduced sensory delays but simultaneously boosted inertia and viscosity.
The results were dramatic: participants instinctively regained control, with their sway reduced by as much as 80 percent and most avoiding virtual falls entirely. “We were amazed that adding inertia and viscosity could partly cancel the instability caused by late feedback,” said lead author Paul Belzner, a former UBC kinesiology master’s student.
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The implications for fall prevention are substantial. Falls represent one of the most serious health risks for older adults, costing Canada’s health-care system over $5 billion each year. “What’s exciting is that our finding suggests we can help in another way—by giving the body a small mechanical boost that makes balance easier for the brain,” explained Dr. Blouin. This opens possibilities for wearable devices that add gentle resistance during sway or robotic trainers that help patients adapt to slower neural feedback.
The research, funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the UBC School of Kinesiology Equipment and Research Accelerator Fund, will soon move into UBC’s new Gateway health building. There, researchers from multiple disciplines will use the robotic platform to develop next-generation fall-prevention technologies, potentially helping millions maintain their independence through healthier aging.
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