Humans Sensitivity Distribution in Perceptual Space by a Wearable Haptic Sleeve

It is very important to understand humans’ perception when the other communication modalities like vision and audition are partially or fully impaired. Therefore, this paper tries to give a brief overview on humans’ sensitivity distribution in perceptual space. During our experiments, a wearable haptic sleeve consisted of 7 vibro-actuators was used to stimulate subjects arm to convey haptic feedback. The basic research questions in this study are: 1) whether humans’ perception linearly correlated with the actuation frequency, haptic feedback in our scenario 2) humans’ ability to generalise templates via the wearable haptic sleeve. Those findings would be useful to increase humans’ perception when humans have to work with fully or partially impaired perception in their day-to-day life

A novel human-machine interface for guiding : the NeoASAS Smart Walker

In an aging society it is extremely important to develop devices, which can support and aid the elderly in their daily life. This demands tools that extend independent living and promote improved health. In this work it is proposed a new interface approach integrated into a walker. This interface is based on a joystick and it is intended to extract the user’s movement intentions. The interface is designed to be userfriendly, simple and intuitive, efficient and economic, meeting usability aspects and focused on a commercial implementation, but not being demanding at the user cognitive level. Preliminary sets of experiments were performed which showed the sensibility of the joystick to extract navigation commands from the user. These signals presented a higher frequency component that was attenuated by a Benedict-Bordner g-h filter. The presented methodology offers an effective cancelation of the undesired components from joystick data, allowing the system to extract in real-time voluntary user’s navigation commands. Based on this real-time identification of voluntary user’s commands, an approach to the control architecture of the robotic walker is being developed, in order to obtain stable and safe user assisted locomotion.(undefined

Real time control of the ASBGo walker through a physical human–robot interface

Available online 5 November 2013In this work it is presented the development of the conceptual design, implementation and validation of a Smart walker with an inexpensive integrated interface. This interface is based on a joystick and it intends to extract the user’s command intentions. Preliminary sets of experiments were performed which showed the sensibility of the joystick to extract navigation commands from the user. These signals presented a higher frequency component that was attenuated by a Benedict–Bordner g–h filter. The resulting interaction signals are then classified and converted into motor commands through a fuzzy logic controller. Additionally, the detection of possible falls and instability of the user was also one of the aims integrated onto the overall system architecture. Results have shown that the resultant movement of the walker was constant and safe without bumps. Short enquiries to the users have provided positive feedback about the device maneuverability in terms of easiness to use.This work is financed by FEDER Funds and through "Programa Operacional Fatores de Competitividade'' COMPETE and by National Funds through FCT - "Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia'' under the Project: FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-022674. Work supported by Portuguese Science Foundation (grant SFRH/BD/76097/2011)

A systematic review of study results reported for the evaluation of robotic rollators from the perspective of users

© 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness and perception of robotic rollators (RRs) from the perspective of users. Methods: Studies identified in a previous systematic review published on 2016 on the methodology of studies evaluating RRs by the user perspective were re-screened for eligibility based on the following inclusion criteria: evaluation of the human–robot interaction from the user perspective, use of standardized outcome measurements, and quantitative presentation of study results. Results: Seventeen studies were eligible for inclusion. Due to the clinical and methodological heterogeneity across studies, a narrative synthesis of study results was conducted. We found conflicting results concerning the effectiveness of the robotic functionalities of the RRs. Only a few studies reported superior user performance or reduced physical demands with the RRs compared to unassisted conditions or conventional assistive mobility devices; however, without providing statistical evidence. The user perception of the RRs was found to be generally positive. Conclusions: There is still no sufficient evidence on the effectiveness of RRs from the user perspective. More well-designed, high-quality studies with adequate study populations, larger sample sizes, appropriate assessment strategies with outcomes specifically tailored to the robotic functionalities, and statistical analyses of results are required to evaluate RRs at a higher level of evidence.Implications for Rehabilitation RRs cover intelligent functionalities that focus on gait assistance, obstacle avoidance, navigation assistance, sit-to-stand transfer, body weight support or fall prevention. The evaluation from the user perspective is essential to ensure that RRs effectively address users’ needs, requirements and preferences. The evidence on the effectiveness of RRs is severely hampered by the low methodological quality of most of the available studies. RRs seem generally to be perceived as positive by the users. There is very limited evidence on the effectiveness and benefits of RRs compared to conventional assistive mobility devices. Further research with high methodological quality needs to be conducted to reach more robust conclusions about the effectiveness of RRs

Evaluation studies of robotic rollators by the user perspective: A systematic review

Background: Robotic rollators enhance the basic functions of established devices by technically advanced physical, cognitive, or sensory support to increase autonomy in persons with severe impairment. In the evaluation of such Ambient Assisted Living solutions, both the technical and user perspectives are important to prove usability, effectiveness, and safety, and to ensure adequate device application.Objective: The aim of this systematic review is to summarize the methodology of studies evaluating robotic rollators with focus on the user perspective and to give recommendations for future evaluation studies.Methods: A systematic literature search up to December 31, 2014 was conducted based on the Cochrane Review methodology using the electronic databases PubMed and IEEE Xplore. Articles were selected according to the following inclusion criteria: Evaluation studies of robotic rollators documenting human-robot interaction, no case reports, published in English language.Results: Twenty-eight studies were identified that met the predefined inclusion criteria. Large heterogeneity in the definitions of the target user group, study populations, study designs, and assessment methods was found across the included studies. No generic methodology to evaluate robotic rollators could be identified. We found major methodological shortcomings related to insufficient sample descriptions and sample sizes, and lack of appropriate, standardized and validated assessment methods. Long-term use in habitual environment was also not evaluated.Conclusions: Apart from the heterogeneity, methodological deficits in most of the identified studies became apparent. Recommendations for future evaluation studies include: clear definition of target user group, adequate selection of subjects, inclusion of other assistive mobility devices for comparison, evaluation of the habitual use of advanced prototypes, adequate assessment strategy with established, standardized and validated methods, and statistical analysis of study results. Assessment strategies may additionally focus on specific functionalities of the robotic rollators allowing an individually tailored assessment of innovative features to document their added value

Assistive mobility devices focusing on smart walkers : classification and review

In an aging society it is extremely important to develop devices, which can support and aid the elderly in their daily life. This demands means and tools that extend independent living and promote improved health. Thus, the goal of this article is to review the state of the art in the robotic technology for mobility assistive devices for people with mobility disabilities. The important role that robotics can play in mobility assistive devices is presented, as well as the identification and survey of mobility assistive devices subsystems with a particular focus on the walkers technology. The advances in the walkers’ field have been enormous and have shown a great potential on helping people with mobility disabilities. Thus it is presented a review of the available literature of walkers and are discussed major advances that have been made and limitations to be overcome

Cognitive function and assistive technology for cognition: A review

The relationship between assistive technology for cognition (ATC) and cognitive function was examined using a systematic review. A literature search identified 89 publications reporting 91 studies of an ATC intervention in a clinical population. The WHO International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) was used to categorize the cognitive domains being assisted and the tasks being performed. Results show that ATC have been used to effectively support cognitive functions relating to attention, calculation, emotion, experience of self, higher level cognitive functions (planning and time management) and memory. The review makes three contributions: (1) It reviews existing ATC in terms of cognitive function, thus providing a framework for ATC prescription on the basis of a profile of cognitive deficits, (2) it introduces a new classification of ATC based on cognitive function, and (3) it identifies areas for future ATC research and development. (JINS, 2012, 18, 1–19

An Adaptive Guidance System for Robotic Walking Aids

In the last years, several robotic walking aids to assist elderly users with mobility constraints and thus to react to the growing number of elderly persons in our society have been developed. In order to ensure good support for the user, the robotic walker should adapt to the motion of the user while at the same time not losing the target out of sight. Even though some of the existing active robotic walkers are able to guide their user to a target, during guidance, the input of the user is not considered sufficiently. Therefore a new adaptive guidance system for robotic walkers has been developed. It is able to lead the walking aid user to a given target while considering his inputs during guidance and adapting the path respectively. The guidance system has been implemented on the mobile robot assistant Care-O-bot II and a field test was done in an old people’s residence proving the correct function and usefulness of the guidance system

Navigation system using passive collaborative control adapted to user profile for a rollator device

In order to achieve this goal, research in different areas has been necessary. First, a methodology to provide human-like platform motion in reactive navigation algorithms has been proposed to improve user acceptance of help. Then, work has focused on gait analysis and user's condition estimation using only onboard sensors. In addition, a new methodology to evaluate fall risk using only onboard sensors while users walk has been proposed to balance the contribution of user and robot to control. All proposed subsystems have been validated with a set of volunteers at two rehabilitation hospitals: Fondazione Santa Lucia (Rome) and Hospital Regional Universitario (Malaga). Volunteers presented a wide variety of physical and cognitive disabilities. Tests with healthy volunteers have been discarded from the beginning to avoid a sampling bias error. Obtained results have shown that the proposed system can be used for: i) reactively generating human-like trajectories that outperforms all other tested algorithms in terms of likeness to human paths and success rate; ii) monitoring gait and user's condition while users walk using only on-board sensors; and iii) evaluating fall risk without wearable sensors nor ambient sensors. This thesis open a number of open research lines: i) user condition estimation can be extended to another medical scales; ii) the method to reactively generate human-like-trajectories can be extended to add deliberative human-adapted-path-planning; and iii) the fall risk estimator can be extended to a fall risk predictor.Rollators provide autonomy to persons with mobility impairments. These platforms can be used while people perform their Activities of Daily Living in order to provide support and/or balance. Also, they can be used during the rehabilitation process to strengthen the lower limbs or to provide balance before users can progress to canes or crutches. Rollators have a limited set of personalization options, but they are usually related to the users' body size. Hence, people who need extra typically have to choose a wheelchair instead. This transition to a wheelchair limits users' movements and it increases their disuse syndrome because they do not exercise their lower limbs. Hence, it is a priority to extent the use of rollator platforms as much as possible by adapting help to people who can not use a conventional rollator on their own. Technological enhancements can be added to rollator to expand their use to a larger population. For example, force sensors on handlebars provide information about users' weight bearing. This information can be used during rehabilitation to control their partial weight-bearing. Encoders on wheels may also provide useful information about the walking speed, which is a well know estimator of fall risk. In addition to monitorization, motors can be attached to the wheels for assistance, e.g. to reduce effort while ascending slopes. This thesis focuses on creating a navigation system for a robotized rollator, which includes weight bearing sensors, encoders and wheel motors. The navigation system relies on passive collaborative control to continuously combine user and system commands in a seamless way. The main contribution of this work is adaptation to the user's needs through continuous, transparent monitorization and profile estimation

When technology cares for people with dementia:A critical review using neuropsychological rehabilitation as a conceptual framework

Clinicians and researchers have become increasingly interested in the potential of technology in assisting persons with dementia (PwD). However, several issues have emerged in relation to how studies have conceptualized who the main technology user is (PwD/carer), how technology is used (as compensatory, environment modification, monitoring or retraining tool), why it is used (i.e., what impairments and/or disabilities are supported) and what variables have been considered as relevant to support engagement with technology. In this review we adopted a Neuropsychological Rehabilitation perspective to analyse 253 studies reporting on technological solutions for PwD. We analysed purposes/uses, supported impairments and disabilities and how engagement was considered. Findings showed that the most frequent purposes of technology use were compensation and monitoring, supporting orientation, sequencing complex actions and memory impairments in a wide range of activities. The few studies that addressed the issue of engagement with technology considered how the ease of use, social appropriateness, level of personalization, dynamic adaptation and carers' mediation allowed technology to adapt to PWD's and carers' preferences and performance. Conceptual and methodological tools emerged as outcomes of the analytical process, representing an important contribution to understanding the role of technologies to increase PwD's wellbeing and orient future research.University of Huddersfield, under grants URF301-01 and URF506-01