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Scientists at the University of York develop a revolutionary two-armed robot capable of assisting individuals with dressing tasks, marking a significant advancement in assistive robotics.
In a groundbreaking development, researchers at the University of York have unveiled a state-of-the-art robot designed to mimic the intricate two-handed movements of care-workers during dressing exercises. The innovative technology, poised to revolutionize the field of assistive robotics, promises to enhance the quality of care for elderly individuals and those with disabilities.
Traditional assistive dressing robots, typically equipped with a single arm, have proven to be inadequate, often causing discomfort or impracticality for the individuals in care. Dr. Jihong Zhu, a robotics researcher at the University of York’s Institute for Safe Autonomy, recognized this limitation and proposed a novel approach: a two-armed assistive dressing scheme inspired by the nuanced actions of human caregivers.
“Care-workers play a crucial role in ensuring the comfort and well-being of individuals in their care, particularly during tasks such as dressing,” explained Dr. Zhu. “Our goal was to develop a robot capable of mimicking the natural movements of care-workers, enabling a smoother and more comfortable dressing experience.”
Through a method known as learning from demonstration, the research team allowed the robot to observe and learn from human movements during dressing exercises. Leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), the robot generated a model that accurately replicates the actions of human helpers, including the use of two hands for dressing and the angles required for optimal assistance.
“We observed that care-workers employ specific techniques to minimize discomfort and distress during dressing,” Dr. Zhu elaborated. “By incorporating these insights into our robotic design, we aim to streamline the dressing process, allowing care-workers to allocate more time to providing companionship and monitoring the well-being of individuals in their care.”
The team’s research also focused on developing algorithms to ensure the robot’s flexibility in movements, allowing it to perform pulling and lifting actions while remaining responsive to human guidance. Crucially, the robot can be halted or redirected mid-action with a gentle touch, ensuring safety and trust in human-robot interactions.
“Human modeling is integral to optimizing human-robot interactions, but safety and adaptability are paramount,” Dr. Zhu emphasized. “Our next step is to test the robot’s safety limitations and assess its acceptance among those who stand to benefit most from this innovative technology.”
The collaborative research, conducted in partnership with researchers from TU Delft and Honda Research Institute Europe, was made possible through funding from the Honda Research Institute Europe. As the development of assistive robotics continues to advance, the newly unveiled dressing robot holds immense promise in improving the daily lives of individuals with diverse needs, heralding a new era of innovation in care assistance.
