Talk:Robotics
From Capsil Wiki
Good stuff...I'm not sure we need to put the statistics for ageing populations etc in the 'Justification' section...are there any specific justifications for using robots? e.g. scenarios or studies indicating their effectiveness fir age related factors. - Niall
Robotics and Body Sensor Newtorks
The main overlap between wearable body sensor networks and robotics has been discussed as the area of rehabiliation where ewearable devices give data relating to gait, motion, activity etc. There are many prototypes of these such as The Philips Stroke Rehabilitation Exerciser [1] is a device being developed by Philips with input from University of Ulster, University of Bath and Sheffield Hallam University. It is a device that straps to the upper body of the patient and links wirelessly to a console thet is running programs developed by the physiotherapist. The patient looks in to a monitor and receives real time feedback on his progress and the physiotherapist is also informed of progress. It is designed to be used in the patients own home and is a very easy to use system. A neat system also is the HAL [1] system aimed at sypporting and improve limb movements. This system uses body sensor networks to detect muscle motor signals. There is a trend for body sensor network systems to be coupled with in-hospital care systems in a local area. The justification here is to free up staff from administration and to automate as much as possible daily tasks. Examples include the Vanderbilt Vigilance System [2] which allows an anesthesiologist to be in 4 different Operating Rooms at once. Involves a wearable computer, power pack and a small glasses-mounted LCD screen. The anesthesiologist can change the display around via wireless portable mouse. Alerts (such as BP, SPO2 etc) come up automatically. Another very impressive system based heavily on accruate sensing of hand movement is the Intuitive Davinci Surgical system [3] which is a fully robotic minimally invasive surgery system. The system relies on the surgeons hand movements detected by their EndoWrist sensor systems to perfrom comples surgeries. The system is capable of detecting and filtering out surgeons hand tremors and provides high definition 3d images of the procedure. Overall the overlap of robotics and body sensors will provide for improved patient safety and reduced hospital cost in the primary healthcare setting.
A major justification for using robots (both in home and in hospital settings) is the forecasted lack of care staff to provide care for the baby boomers. Robots have been suggested as possible solutions here and when used in conjunction with body sensing networks hold some merit in this space. Examples here include PEARL the 'Nurse' robot (nursebot) that can read the vital signs produced by worn body sensing networks and interpret results and intervene quickly in an emergency (cardiac failure for example). The nursebot Pearl can also perform other functions such as reminding elderly patients to visit the bathroom, take medicine, drink, or see the doctor, connecting patients with caregivers through the Internet. The robot is a platform for tele-presence technology whereby professional caregivers can interact directly with remote patients, reducing the frequency of doctor visits, manipulating objects around the home such as the refrigerator, washing machine, or microwave. Researchers say arthritis is the main reason elderly give up independent living. Many elderly people are forced to live alone, deprived of social contacts. The nursebot may help shut-ins feel less isolated.
