Latest Blog Posts
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Internet of Things Technology for Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology: Potentials and Challenges
As one of the most influential technologies to improve and make changes in our daily living, Internet of Things (IoT) technology has drastically developed and extensively gained in popularity, as time goes by. Undoubtedly, a successful application of the IoT technology to rehabilitation engineering domains enables people who have special…
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ARoMA-V 2: Assistive Robotic Manipulation Assistance with Computer Vision and Voice Recognition
We have designed and developed a handy alternative control method, called ARoMA-V2 (Assistive Robotic Manipulation Assistance with computer Vision and Voice recognition), for controlling assistive robotic manipulators based on computer vision and user voice recognition. Potential advantages of ARoMA-V2 over the traditional alternatives include: providing completely hands-free operation; helping a…
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Voice-Controlled Vision-based Semi-Autonomous Assistive Robotic Manipulation Assistance
People with severe physical disabilities have found it difficult or impossible to independently use assistive robotic manipulators (ARM) due to their lack of access to the conventional control methods and the cognitive/physical workload associated with operating the ARMs. This study aims to develop and evaluate an alternative control method for…
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Toward Developing a Framework for Standardizing the Functional Assessment and Performance Evaluation of Assistive Robotic Manipulators (ARMs)
The research and development of assistive robotic manipulators (ARMs) aims to enhance the upper-extremity daily functioning of individuals with disability. Resources continue to be invested, yet the field still lacks a standard framework to serve as a tool for the functional assessment and performance evaluation of ARMs. A review of…
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Computer Access Technologies for Controlling Assistive Robotic Manipulators: Potentials and Challenges
One of the most challenging barriers to a successful application of the assistive robots is how to enable users who have special needs to interact with the robot aids in an efficient and comfortable manner, since the conventional control method using a traditional joystick combined with buttons and/or knobs demands…
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Shared Control of Assistive Robotic Manipulators
The continuum of controlling an assistive robotic manipulator (ARM) ranges from manual control to full autonomy. Shared control of an ARM operates in the space between manual control and full autonomy. This paper reviews the status quo on shared control of ARMs. Though users and ARMs can divide responsibilities for…
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Focus Group Evaluation of an Overhead Kitchen Robot Appliance
We developed and evaluated an assistive robotic manipulator called KitchenBot that operates along an overhead track built into the kitchen to assist individuals with upper extremity impairments for common kitchen tasks. Focus groups conducted with eleven participants from the potential user population revealed that potential users had very positive perceptions,…
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Circling Interface: An Alternative Interaction Method for On-Screen Object Manipulation
An alternative interaction method, called the circling interface, was developed and evaluated for individuals with disabilities who find it difficult or impossible to consistently and efficiently perform pointing operations involving the left and right mouse buttons. The circling interface is a gesture-based interaction technique. To specify a target of interest,…
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Intelligent single switch wheelchair navigation
We have developed an intelligent single switch scanning interface and wheelchair navigation assistance system, called intelligent single switch wheelchair navigation (ISSWN), to improve driving safety, comfort and efficiency for individuals who rely on single switch scanning as a control method. ISSWN combines a standard powered wheelchair with a laser rangefinder,…