.FLYINGHEAD ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
.TITLE Robot, can you lend a hand?
.AUTHOR G. Denise Lance
.SUMMARY In this fascinating article, G. Denise Lance, Ph.D. takes a look at some helper robots for people with disabilities. Is Rosie from The Jetson’s here yet? Denise doesn’t think so, but there are some promising technologies in development.
.OTHER
Every so often, I think, "I really need a robot". No. I’m not too lazy to get up and get a snack. I have cerebral palsy, which makes walking and using my hands difficult. I rely upon family and paid assistants to help me with most personal tasks and housework.
Even if I find reliable people, paying for help is expensive. I recently set out on the Web to find my own version of Rosie from The Jetson’s. While much research aims to find ways that robotics can help people with disabilities, many of the devices remain in prototype form.
.CALLOUT Be careful, though. If you push too hard, Domo says "Ouch!"
It’s frustrating to find a promising robotic assistant, only to learn that I can’t bring it home and put it to work immediately. Right now, robotic arms are my most viable option, but a full-fledged robotic assistant may not be too far in the future.
.TEASER Read the rest of Denise’s fascinating article.
.H1 The Vision Arm
[[http://www.smartrobots.com|Smart Robots]] will soon offer the Vision Arm for beta-testing. The arm, as seen in Figure A, has an up to four foot reach, and it can grasp, carry, and release objects up to five pounds.
.FIGPAIR A The Vision Arm has not only a long reach but a huge price tag.
A camera attached to the arm senses objects. A PC interface controls the unit, but with continued use, the Vision Arm learns repeated actions and operates automatically.
Portability is not a feature of this 50-pound device, so I would need to attach the Vision Arm to a tabletop. Heftiness also severely limits its utility. While I could use it to grab food off pantry shelves, it would not be available to reach books from office shelves, or towels, toiletries, and other items in the bathroom closet.
At $12,950 each, I would have to be Oprah to afford one in each room. I think I’ll wave goodbye to the Vision Arm for now.
.H1 Assistive Robotic Manipulator
Netherlands company [[http://www.exactdynamics.nl|Exact Dynamics]] offers the Assistive Robotic Manipulator (ARM), which operates much like other robotic appendages. You operate the ARM via a keypad, joystick, or switch. The ARM, shown in Figure B, stands alone on a tripod or connects to a wheelchair and can be packed in a case, allowing greater portability. Since I don’t use a wheelchair at this point, toting the ARM around would be cumbersome without assistance, thus defeating the goal of independence.
.FIGPAIR B The ARM reaches to turn on a faucet.
.H1 A robot named Domo
Recently at MIT, researcher Aaron Edsinger and his colleagues revealed a humanoid robot named [[http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2007/domo.html|Domo]]. As seen in Figure C, Domo has twelve on-board computers.
.FIGPAIR C Domo holds a box for his inventor, Aaron Edsinger.
Domo’s hands can take an object in one hand, switch the object to the other hand, and place it on a shelf, just from a few voice commands. Domo’s fingers have sensors that estimate the size of objects. Springs in Domo’s arms, hands, and neck detect human touch, so you can guide him through tasks.
Be careful, though. If you push too hard, Domo says "Ouch!"
Domo’s eye sockets feature cameras that recognize human facial expressions and even gaze into your eyes. Edsinger believes that this human-like connection is important for people to feel at ease with robotic helpers. Personally, I find a robot’s staring into my eyes a bit creepy, but I suppose I would get used to it.
.CALLOUT He might bring me a pair of shoes when I actually asked for a bag of M&M’s.
The potential of robots like Domo to assist me with tasks around the house holds great appeal, although I don’t think one could help me in the shower without short-circuiting.
Humanoid robots offer more portability than the robotic appendages. I’m sure I would receive plenty of strange looks strolling in public with a robot companion, but I could put a sign on him explaining that he has my permission to pinch anyone who stares at me.
Since I also have a speech impairment, I fear a robot like Domo may misunderstand my commands. If his recognition of my speech is anything like that of Dragon Naturally Speaking, he might bring me a pair of shoes when I actually asked for a bag of M&M’s. I would feel better giving commands with a remote control.
.H1 Where’s it all going?
Voice recognition accuracy must improve before robotic helpers can fulfill their promise for individuals with disabilities. A recent study by Vladimir Kulyukin, assistant professor of computer science at Utah State University, tested RFID-equipped robotic guides for people with blindness.
The man testing the device told the robot where he wanted to go, and the robot guided him by reading RFID tags placed around the building. Although the robot accurately read the tags, each time the tester cleared his throat, the robot tried to direct him to the restroom. Foregoing speech recognition for now, Kulyukin plans to incorporate RFID technology into shopping carts that will guide people with vision impairments to items throughout the store.
Numerous research projects are testing all sorts of applications of robotics for those of us with disabilities, such as teaching language and social skills to children and retraining the brains of those who have suffered strokes. Until the availability, portability and affordability of robot helpers improves, however, I’ll stick with humans.
.BEGIN_SIDEBAR
.H1 Product availability and resources
For more information on the Vision Arm, visit http://www.smartrobots.com.
For more information on the ARM, visit http://www.exactdynamics.nl.
To read more about Domo, visit http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2007/domo.html.
.END_SIDEBAR
.BIO G. Denise Lance, Ph.D. is a researcher, online instructor, and freelance writer who often covers assistive technology.
