HAVATAR

The HAVATAR project developed new software skills for telepresence robots that increase their level of autonomy, the teleoperation comfort of the user, and its social presence at the remote site.

With the steady ageing of the world population, more people are confined to live in isolation at their homes. Also, health and environmental concerns are demanding people work remotely more often to limit the carbon footprint in travelling and reduce the risk of spread of viral and infectious diseases. In both cases, the contact with familiars, friends or coworkers rely on telecommunication solutions with low interaction possibilities and unsatisfactory social bonding. Such solutions lack social presence and spatial accessibility, as well as diminished body language and implicit communication cues. The HAVATAR project proposes to increase the level of autonomy and social presence of current systems by using recent robotics and artificial intelligence technologies. Further to the interaction, telepresence robots can play active roles in providing help and health assistance to quarantined people. Specific behaviors, actuators and sensors can play important roles in handling epidemic crises.

PARTNERS

FUNDING

FCT HAVATAR project grant (DOI: 10.54499/PTDC/EEI-ROB/1155/2020)