Artificial Vision Algorithms for Socially Assistive Robot Applications: A Review of the Literature

Today, computer vision algorithms are very important for different fields and applications, such as closed-circuit television security, health status monitoring, and recognizing a specific person or object and robotics. Regarding this topic, the present paper deals with a recent review of the literature on computer vision algorithms (recognition and tracking of faces, bodies, and objects) oriented towards socially assistive robot applications. The performance, frames per second (FPS) processing speed, and hardware implemented to run the algorithms are highlighted by comparing the available solutions. Moreover, this paper provides general information for researchers interested in knowing which vision algorithms are available, enabling them to select the one that is most suitable to include in their robotic system applicationsBeca Conacyt Doctorado No de CVU: 64683

User-Centered Design and Evaluation of an Upper Limb Rehabilitation System with a Virtual Environment

Virtual environments (VEs) and haptic devices increase patients’ motivation. Furthermore, they observe their performance during rehabilitation. However, some of these technologies present disadvantages because they do not consider therapists’ needs and experience. This research presents the development and usability evaluation of an upper limb rehabilitation system based on a user-centered design approach for patients with moderate or mild stroke that can perform active rehabilitation. The system consists of a virtual environment with four virtual scenarios and a developed haptic device with vibrotactile feedback, and it can be visualized using a monitor or a Head-Mounted Display (HMD). Two evaluations were carried out; in the first one, five therapists evaluated the system’s usability using a monitor through the System Usability Scale, the user experience with the AttrakDiff questionnaire, and the functionality with customized items. As a result of these tests, improvements were made to the system. The second evaluation was carried out by ten volunteers who evaluated the usability, user experience, and performance with a monitor and HMD. A comparison of the therapist and volunteer scores has shown an increase in the usability evaluation (from 78 to >85), the hedonic score rose from 0.6 to 2.23, the pragmatic qualities from 1.25 to 2.20, and the attractiveness from 1.3 to 2.95. Additionally, the haptic device and the VE showed no relevant difference between their performance when using a monitor or HMD. The results show that the proposed system has the characteristics to be a helpful tool for therapists and upper limb rehabilitation

A novel Diagnostician Haptic Interface for Tele-palpation

The shortage of specialist caused by the increased need for medical examinations has stimulated the application of robotics technologies to telemedicine. For some of the most common medical examinations such as ultrasonography and palpation, doctors exploit haptic feedback to formulate a diagnosis. This is especially true for palpation, where haptic feedback plays the biggest role. In this paper, we present a novel 3-Degrees-of-Freedom (DoFs) robotic interface which is designed to be integrated into a telepalpation system. In particular, this haptic interface is the master of a teleoperation loop in which the slave operates on the patient. Therefore, its design allows the doctor to explore the whole patient's abdomen while providing the doctor with a haptic feedback when in contact with the patient. A preliminary assessment of the interface is also presented: three participants were asked to detect the presence and the size of a sphere without visual clues. Results show that the interface is suitable for the application in remote palpation

Artificial Vision Algorithms for Socially Assistive Robot Applications: A Review of the Literature

Today, computer vision algorithms are very important for different fields and applications, such as closed-circuit television security, health status monitoring, and recognizing a specific person or object and robotics. Regarding this topic, the present paper deals with a recent review of the literature on computer vision algorithms (recognition and tracking of faces, bodies, and objects) oriented towards socially assistive robot applications. The performance, frames per second (FPS) processing speed, and hardware implemented to run the algorithms are highlighted by comparing the available solutions. Moreover, this paper provides general information for researchers interested in knowing which vision algorithms are available, enabling them to select the one that is most suitable to include in their robotic system applications

Embedded Architecture of a Hydraulic Demolition Machine for Robotic Teleoperation in the Construction Sector

In the last decade, teleoperated machines have become a reality in modern construction yards. Although these machines represent a step forward in terms of flexibility and safety, they still rely on a traditional control pad. Usually, the operators move the machine's end-effector driving each joint sequentially following a predefined order which depends on the operator's skill. This paper describes the design choices, the architecture of the system and the closed-loop control structure proposed to improve the human-machine interaction on a working machine for the construction field. The proposed solution has been implemented on a remote-controlled demolition platform exploiting a hybrid LabVIEW-Matlab software architecture. The work also proposed a closed-loop position control for the hydraulic manipulator. The feasibility of the proposed embedded architecture is assessed through experimental tests where the end-effector (EE) has to track a predefined trajectory

Adjustable Stiffness-Based Supination–Pronation Forearm Physical Rehabilitator

This paper reports a new medical device together with a control strategy that focuses on the following tasks: (1) a trajectory tracking problem associated with the supination–pronation motion of the wrist–forearm for purposes of rehabilitation and (2) the adjustment of the system’s stiffness associated with the applied torque guaranteeing the angular motion of the rehabilitator as well as the resistance that potential users must overcome. These two tasks are oriented to regain the range of motion (ROM) of the wrist–forearm and to improve the strength of the associated muscles. It is worth mentioning that this device has not been clinically validated. However, the performance of the closed-loop medical device is validated with preliminary experiments with a healthy subject based on movement patterns involving passive, assisted-resisted, and active phases of rehabilitation protocols

MODELO INDUSTRIAL DE DISPOSITIVO PARA MOVILIZACIÓN EN ROBOT SUAVE -MX/f/2021/001242

Diseño Industrial. Robot Suave movilizador neumático para su uso en rehabilitación

A Novel Wearable Haptic Controller for Teleoperating Robotic Platforms

This letter presents a novel wearable haptic controller (WHC) system suitable for teleoperation of demolition machines and robotic platforms. With regard to existing operator controller unit composed by passive joysticks, the WHC has been designed to provide force feedback to the user, hence improving the user perfor- mance during the teleoperation of different robotic platforms and the interaction with the environment on the remote construction sites. The haptic feedback is provided through two compact parallel kinematic (CPK) interfaces that will be presented within the paper. The CPK implements a novel variant of the Delta kinematics which allows minimizing the radial encumbrance while preserving same operational workspace. In addition, we propose a new interaction modality that provides users the feeling of directly maneuvering the end-effector of the demolition machine. Finally, the architec- ture of the proposed system is presented and the results of some preliminary evaluation tests are discussed. The experiments have been performed in simulated environments and on a real machine

Design of a Biomechatronic Device for Upright Mobility in People with SCI Using an Exoskeleton Like a Stabilization System

This paper presents a novel biomechatronic device that resolves the necessities of mobility for people with spinal cord trauma (SCI) and disability. The proposed device features a safe and reliable mobility mechanism that withstands daily use without premature mechanical wear, facilitating the activities of daily living (ADL) for people affected by SCI, integrating them to a social and workforce environment that allows them, on one hand, to move in a standing upright position in complex situations of the urban architecture, and on the other hand, provides them a mechatronic system to assist them to stand up and sit down