5 minute read
ROBOTSAT YOUR CALL
They can walk, talk and make you a nice cuppa
ANARMY of robots that can talk, use domestic appliances, catch and ferry for you, and be there when you just need a helping hand, are all being perfected.
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At the UK’s National Robotarium, their assisted living lab is set up to operate like a real flat with a kitchen, living room, bathroom and bedroom.
Dr Mauro Dragone said: “Throughout the home we have connected sensors, domestic robots and other assisted living technology to help care practitioners, designers and patients to test the usefulness of assisted living technologies.
“Through our OpenAmbientAssisted Living project, we have equipped our laboratory to offer real-time interaction with its sensing, automation and robotic equipment, over the Internet.
One of the star features at a special week-long event at the Robotarium, in Edinburgh, was the Earswitch that can be used to operate multiple devices using an ear muscle alone. This could significantly improve the independence of people living with conditions like motor neurone disease and severe strokes.
Its creator, Dr Nick Gompertz, from Somerset, said: “The updated Earswitch prototype can now control a single access point from which to surf the internet, control wheelchairs, operate home appliances and even play computer games. ”
It is operated by detecting movements from a tiny muscle in the ear, giving people the power to switch on lights, make phone calls or type emails entirely hands-free.
Dr Gompertz now hopes to embed the device in hearing aids to enable users to switch between conversations aiding clearer audio, or earphones to allow the wider public to link to a multitude of devices with a twitch of the muscle.
ROBOTSROBOTSATAT YOURYOUR CALCAL
‘They help me to work hard – and they’re fun’
CHILDREN and young adults with learning difficulties across the North West are benefiting from the robot invasion.
Small humanoid robots are being used to teach children cognitive, language, social and emotional skills that encourage greater participation in the classroom.
Known as QTrobots, they have been adopted by disability charity, the Together Trust, which provides education for children and young adults with learning difficulties, disabilities, complex health needs and autism. Tom, 24, from Stockport, said: “I really enjoy the robots because they help me concentrate and they’re fun. When I work hard it makes me happy, and the robots help me work harder. ”
Tom’s mother, Frances, added: “We know Tom loves being with the robots and the staff tell us that his progress has been remarkable. He can be very focused and actively listen, and he can stay engaged for a long time.
Jeremy Swinn, acting head of Bridge College in Manchester, one of the trust’s education centres, said the robots are making a really positive impact.
“Many learners have engaged with the robots for lengthy periods of time, longer than they would engage in face-to-face interactions, ” he said.
n The programme is being supported by
the InnovationAgency, an NHS organisation that specialises in the spread and adoption of health and care innovations.
BREAK TIME: Robots at the National Robotarium show off their amazing skills HOME HELP: The Human Support Robot with the Walsh family
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ECH TEACHER: obots are helping ng people with ning difficulties
One of the family . . .
ONE of the first people with mobility issues to test a robot assistant at home wasAnthony Walsh.
Anthony, who lived with motor neurone disease, and his family welcomed Toyota’s Human Support Robot into their home.
Sadly,Anthony died shortly after the trial finished, but he was happy to experience “a taste of what the future holds” .
And details of the trial, plus a short film about it, have been released to respect his wish to raise awareness of the disease and the work of charity the MND Association.
The HSR was used as a service robot around the home, and thanks to a folding arm and a range of sensors and cameras can perform practical tasks for people with mobility issues.
During its time at the Walsh household it helped bring items from the fridge, pass the TV remote and even sang in Mr Walsh’s voice, which had been recorded in advance.
Speaking at the time of the home trial, he said: “We’re just getting the first taste of what the future might hold and what technology is out there that might be manipulated to help people in my condition, particularly those who maybe don’t have the same support network as I do.
“I think there could be a place where this robot could be there to help people in different ways with their dayto-day life.
“It gives you back a little bit of your independence, albeit you’re still relying on something else.
The trial was the result of work between Toyota Motor Europe, Toyota GB, the MNDAssociation and King’s College London.
Currently, the robot is manually controlled, but robotics experts at King’s College said they hope to make it autonomous in the future.
Oya Celiktutan, a lecturer in robotics at the department of engineering at King’s, said the researchers were also working on making the robot more able to learn from the humans around it.
“One of the problems we are focusing on is how to make robots learn continuously without forgetting their past knowledge, ” she said.
“For instance, how we can make the HSR robot learn which is their user’s favourite mug and then bring their tea in it.
