Robots to Assist People with Disabilities

New research in robotics may help stroke rehabilitation, guide wheelchairs and assist children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) through projects from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The NIH is in its third year of participating in the Interagency National Robotics Initiative (NRI) to support research to develop innovative co-robots — robots that work cooperatively with people. Recovering limb movement after a stroke can be difficult. Research suggests that repeatedly using the affected arm in goal-directed, purposeful movement can promote recovery. With wearable exoskeletons to induce function recovery, one research project hopes to extend therapy into the home, using a lightweight, robotic exoskeleton that can be placed on an affected arm and provide the kind of therapeutic guidance found at rehab centers. With a computer vision-based active learning co-robot wheelchair, this project hopes to provide a solution for elderly and disabled patients who have limited hand functionality and who rely on wheelchairs for mobility. Researchers hope to create a system that can be controlled by the user’s head movements and will adapt to the individual user. Additionally, many new technologies for children with autism have been developed. Demonstrated by robotic applications, most rely on speech interaction and task-based scenarios. Recent studies have shown improvements in the social skills of autistic children who were encouraged to improvise with musical instruments or song. This project aims to develop a music-based system that will help children with ASD interact with a robotic companion in a safe and natural manner. To more effectively stimulate the various emotional and social interactivities for children with ASD, researchers need to take further steps to incorporate multiple types of stimuli. To read more about these research projects, click here.