Design and development of a navigation interface for mobile assistance devices (2017)

Funding

Colombian School of Engineering Julio Garavito.

Abstract

Mobility is one of the most important human faculties. Neurological and other age-related diseases affect human mobility at different levels that cause partial or total loss of that ability. In this context, new technologies have emerged to improve the living conditions of people with motor deficiencies. Currently, a new category of walkers has emerged, integrating robotic, electronic and mechanical technology. These devices are known as robotic walkers. However, new robotic walkers must address the new problem of social acceptability, along with an intuitive human-robot interaction that considers the environment, which guarantees safety and assistance in locomotion within dynamic environments. The main objective of this project is to improve the interaction of the mobile devices of assistance and rehabilitation, in order to make them socially acceptable and present a much more intuitive interaction with their surroundings. To achieve this objective, we plan to design and implement a navigation interface for the detection and tracing of people, which will be integrated into an intelligent walker for assisted locomotion.