Which activities threaten independent living of elderly when becoming problematic : inspiration for meaningful service robot functionality

Purpose: In light of the increasing elderly population and the growing demand for home care, the potential of robot support is given increasing attention. In this paper, an inventory of activities was made that threaten independent living of elderly when becoming problematic. Results will guide the further development of an existing service robot, the Care-O-bot®. Method: A systematic literature search of PubMed was performed, focused on the risk factors for institutionalization. Additionally, focus group sessions were conducted in the Netherlands, United Kingdom and France. In these focus group sessions, problematic activities threatening the independence of elderly people were discussed. Three separate target groups were included in the focus group sessions: (1) elderly persons (n = 41), (2) formal caregivers (n = 40) and (3) informal caregivers (n = 32). Results: Activities within the International Classification of Functioning domains mobility, self-care, and interpersonal interaction and relationships were found to be the most problematic. Conclusions: A distinct set of daily activities was identified that may threaten independent living, but no single activity could be selected as the main activity causing a loss of independence as it is often a combination of problematic activities that is person-specific. Supporting the problematic activities need not involve a robotic solution Read More: http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.3109/17483107.2013.840861Peer reviewe

Exploring the Potential of Emerging Technologies to Meet the Care and Support Needs of Older People: A Delphi Survey

Some emerging technologies have potential to address older people’s care and support needs. However, there is still a gap in the knowledge on the potential uses of these technologies in some care domains. Therefore, a two-round Delphi survey was conducted to establish a consensus of opinion from a group of health and social technology experts (n = 21) on the potential of 10 emerging technologies to meet older people’s needs in five care and support domains. Experts were also asked to provide reasons for their choices in free-text spaces. The consensus level was set at 70%. Free-text responses were analyzed using thematic analysis. Voice activated devices was the technology that reached experts consensus in all assessed care domains. Some technologies (e.g., Artificial intelligence (AI) enabled apps and wearables and Internet of things (IoT) enabled homes) also show potential to support basic self-care and access to healthcare needs of older people. However, most of the remaining technologies (e.g., robotics, exoskeletons, virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR)) face a range of technical and acceptability issues that may hinder their adoption by older people in the near future. Findings should encourage the R & D community to address some of the identified challenges to improve the adoption of emerging technologies by older people

Mobile Robotics

The book is a collection of ten scholarly articles and reports of experiences and perceptions concerning pedagogical practices with mobile robotics.“This work is funded by CIEd – Research Centre on Education, project UID/CED/01661/2019, Institute of Education, University of Minho, through national funds of FCT/MCTES-PT.

A model for assessment of human assistive robot capability

The purpose of this research is to develop a generalised model for levels of autonomy and sophistication for autonomous systems. It begins with an introduction to the research, its aims and objectives before a detailed review of related literature is presented as it pertains to the subject matter and the methodology used in the research. The research tasks are carried out using appropriate methods including literature reviews, case studies and semi-structured interviews. Through identifying the gaps in the current work on human assistive robots, a generalised model for assessing levels of autonomy and sophistication for human assistive robots (ALFHAR) is created through logical modelling, semi-structured interview methods and case studies. A web-based tool for the ALFHAR model is also created to support the model application. The ALFHAR model evaluates levels of autonomy and sophistication with regard to the decision making, interaction, and mechanical ability aspects of human assistive robots. The verification of the model is achieved by analysing evaluation results from the web-based tool and ALFHAR model. The model is validated using a set of tests with stakeholders participation through the conduction of a case study using the web-based tool. The main finding from this research is that the ALFHAR model can be considered as a model to be used in the evaluation of levels of autonomy and sophistication for human assistive robots. It can also prove helpful as part of through life management support for autonomous systems. The thesis concludes with a critical review of the research and some recommendations for further research

A Helping Hand for Europe: The Competitive Outlook for the EU Robotics Industry

This report is one of a series resulting from a project entitled ¿Competitiveness by Leveraging Emerging Technologies Economically¿ (COMPLETE), carried out by JRC-IPTS. Each of the COMPLETE studies illustrates in its own right that European companies are active on many fronts of emerging and disruptive ICT technologies and are supplying the market with relevant products and services. Nevertheless, the studies also show that the creation and growth of high tech companies is still very complex and difficult in Europe, and too many economic opportunities seem to escape European initiatives and ownership. COMPLETE helps to illustrate some of the difficulties experienced in different segments of the ICT industry and by growing potential global players. Hopefully, COMPLETE will contribute to a better understanding of the opportunities and help shape better market conditions (financial, labour and product markets) to sustain European competitiveness and economic growth. This report deals with robotics applications in general, and in two specific areas selected because of potential market and EU capability in these areas: robotics applications in SMEs, and robotics safety. It starts by introducing the state of the art in robotics, their applications, market size, value chains and disruptive potential of emerging robotics technologies. For each of the two specific areas, the report describes the EU landscape, potential market, benefits, difficulties, and how these might be overcome. The last chapter draws together the findings of the study, to consider EU competitiveness in robotics, opportunities and policy implications. The work is based on desk research and targeted interviews with industry experts in Europe and beyond. The results were reviewed by experts and in a dedicated workshop.JRC.DDG.J.4-Information Societ

ИНФОРМАТИЗАЦИЯ ОБРАЗОВАНИЯ В СИСТЕМЕ ОТДЫХА И ОЗДОРОВЛЕНИЯ ДЕТЕЙ КАК СПОСОБ РАЗВИТИЯ РОБОТОТЕХНИКИ

At present, informatization of education is gradually gaining increased applicability in the process of education development. Due to the accelerated rate of science and technologies development, versatile specialists implementing new types of technologies, flexible to tendencies and up-to-date information, who come to their own conclusions and qualified to absorb new skills are appeared to be in-demand in modern society. Educational robotics is a developing field of national domestic education which provides a solid foundation for systems thinking, integration of computer science, mathematics, and natural sciences into engineering creativity. Informatization of education gained through the fulfillment of intellectual and creative children’ potential revealed by means of robotics and resulted in motivation, individualization, social engagement. The present issue is considered from the point of view of extracurricular activities established with due regard to theoretical and methodological background of information technologies accomplishment in the global educational field and experimentally determined advantages of robotics development in children’ health care and recreation system. The present survey embodies observation, practical results, analysis aimed at the development of creative activity, inventive skills. It allows us empirically prove the effectiveness of the implementation of robotics classes in the form of hobby clubs in children’ health care and recreation system. The data obtained reflect receptive audience of youngsters being interested in robotics-related classes which has become an integral part of children’ health care and recreation system. The children were excited while visiting the robotics-related classes throughout the children's recreation camp shift. During classes they tried their best in learning and put their knowledge into practice, as a consequence, different, types of robots have been developed. Robotics-related classes as an integral part of children’ health care and recreation system facilitate inventive and creative skills development.En la actualidad, la informatización de la educación está ganando gradualmente una mayor aplicabilidad en el proceso de desarrollo de la educación. Debido a la velocidad acelerada del desarrollo de la ciencia y las tecnologías, los especialistas versátiles que implementan nuevos tipos de tecnologías, flexibles a las tendencias e información actualizada, que llegan a sus propias conclusiones y están calificados para absorber nuevas habilidades, parecen estar en demanda en la sociedad moderna. La robótica educativa es un campo en desarrollo de la educación doméstica nacional que proporciona una base sólida para el pensamiento de sistemas, la integración de la informática, las matemáticas y las ciencias naturales en la creatividad de ingeniería. La informatización de la educación obtenida a través del cumplimiento del potencial intelectual y creativo de los niños se reveló mediante la robótica y resultó en motivación, individualización, compromiso social. El tema actual se considera desde el punto de vista de las actividades extracurriculares establecidas teniendo en cuenta los antecedentes teóricos y metodológicos del logro de las tecnologías de la información en el campo educativo global y las ventajas determinadas experimentalmente del desarrollo robótico en el sistema de recreación y cuidado de la salud de los niños. La presente encuesta incluye observación, resultados prácticos, análisis dirigidos al desarrollo de la actividad creativa, habilidades inventivas. Nos permite probar empíricamente la efectividad de la implementación de clases de robótica en forma de clubes de pasatiempos en el sistema de cuidado de la salud y recreación de los niños. Los datos obtenidos reflejan una audiencia receptiva de jóvenes interesados en clases relacionadas con la robótica, que se ha convertido en una parte integral del sistema de cuidado de la salud y recreación de los niños. Los niños estaban emocionados mientras visitaban las clases relacionadas con la robótica en todo el turno de campamento de recreación para niños. Durante las clases, hicieron todo lo posible por aprender y pusieron en práctica sus conocimientos. Como consecuencia, se han desarrollado diferentes tipos de robots. Las clases relacionadas con la robótica como parte integral del sistema de recreación y cuidado de la salud de los niños facilitan el desarrollo de habilidades inventivas y creativas.В настоящее время в процессе развития системы образования становится актуальной проблема информатизации образования. В связи с высокими темпами развития науки и техники, в современном обществе возникает острая потребность в специалистах, способных работать с новыми видами технологий, быстро ориентироваться в обстановке и изучении актуального материала, обладающих вариативностью, способных мыслить самостоятельно и быстро усваивать новые знания. Образовательная робототехника является развивающимся направлением развития отечественного образования, закладывающий прочные основы системного мышления, интеграции информатики, математики, естественных наук с развитием инженерного творчества. Информатизация образования через раскрытие интеллектуального и творческого потенциала детей с использованием возможностей робототехники. обеспечивающей мотивацию, индивидуализацию, социализацию. Теоретико-методологическая база применения информационных технологий в мировом образовательном пространстве и доказательства опытно-экспериментальным путем преимущества развития робототехники в системе отдыха и оздоровления детей позволяет рассмотреть данную проблему во внеучебной деятельности. Основу исследования составляют методы наблюдения, упражнения, анализа, направленные на развитие творческой активности, изобретательских навыков, экспериментальные методы позволяют нам эмпирическим путем доказать эффективность внедрения в систему отдыха и оздоровления детей занятий по робототехнике на уровне хобби-клубов. На основе полученных данных можно сделать вывод о том, что робототехника вызвала огромный интерес у подрастающего поколения в системе отдыха и оздоровления детей. Ребята были заинтересованы посещением хобби-клуба по робототехнике на протяжении всей лагерной смены, пытались как можно больше узнать и применить полученные знания на практике, что характеризовалось созданием новых интересных и, довольно, сложных видов роботов. Занятия по робототехнике в системе отдыха и оздоровления детей дает положительный результат, способствует развитию творческих и изобретательских навыко

Inclusion of service robots in the daily lives of frail older users: a step-by-step definition procedure on users' requirements

The implications for the inclusion of robots in the daily lives of frail older adults, especially in relation to these population needs, have not been extensively studied. The “Multi-Role Shadow Robotic System for Independent Living” (SRS) project has developed a remotelycontrolled, semi-autonomous robotic system to be used in domestic environments. The objective of this paper is to document the iterative procedure used to identify, select and prioritize user requirements. Seventy-four requirements were identified by means of focus groups, individual interviews and scenario-based interviews. The list of user requirements, ordered according to impact, number and transnational criteria, revealed a high number of requirements related to basic and instrumental activities of daily living, cognitive and social support and monitorization, and also involving privacy, safety and adaptation issues. Analysing and understanding older users’ perceptions and needs when interacting with technological devices adds value to assistive technology and ensures that the systems address currently unmet needs

Human-friendly robotic manipulators: safety and performance issues in controller design

Recent advances in robotics have spurred its adoption into new application areas such as medical, rescue, transportation, logistics, personal care and entertainment. In the personal care domain, robots are expected to operate in human-present environments and provide non-critical assistance. Successful and flourishing deployment of such robots present different opportunities as well as challenges. Under a national research project, Bobbie, this dissertation analyzes challenges associated with these robots and proposes solutions for identified problems. The thesis begins by highlighting the important safety concern and presenting a comprehensive overview of safety issues in a typical domestic robot system. By using functional safety concept, the overall safety of the complex robotic system was analyzed through subsystem level safety issues. Safety regions in the world model of the perception subsystem, dependable understanding of the unstructured environment via fusion of sensory subsystems, lightweight and compliant design of mechanical components, passivity based control system and quantitative metrics used to assert safety are some important points discussed in the safety review. The main research focus of this work is on controller design of robotic manipulators against two conflicting requirements: motion performance and safety. Human-friendly manipulators used on domestic robots exhibit a lightweight design and demand a stable operation with a compliant behavior injected via a passivity based impedance controller. Effective motion based manipulation using such a controller requires a highly stiff behavior while important safety requirements are achieved with compliant behaviors. On the basis of this intuitive observation, this research identifies suitable metrics to identify the appropriate impedance for a given performance and safety requirement. This thesis also introduces a domestic robot design that adopts a modular design approach to minimize complexity, cost and development time. On the basis of functional modularity concept where each module has a unique functional contribution in the system, the robot “Bobbie-UT‿ is built as an interconnection of interchangeable mobile platform, torso, robotic arm and humanoid head components. Implementation of necessary functional and safety requirements, design of interfaces and development of suitable software architecture are also discussed with the design