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Researchers at the University of Waterloo, in Canada, are working on a robot capable of identifying different objects and especially of finding them in a given space. The idea is to be able to assist people with dementia and help them easily find their glasses, their medication or even their smartphone. The secret lies in its programming and its ability to have an “artificial memory”. The objective is to make it a real companion for dependent people who may have a failing memory. To conduct this research, they used a Fetch mobile manipulator robot, which they use in many other experiments. Equipped with a camera, he can perceive the world around him. Using an algorithm dedicated to object detection, these researchers managed to program the robot to recognize, track and remember specific objects in its field of vision. Concretely, he can distinguish different objects and record their movements to better find them if necessary. In addition, a graphic interface has been specially developed so that users can choose the objects they want to track and be able to find them from their phone or computer. The first tests have already been carried out, knowing that caregivers could soon be called upon to improve this project a little more. A next step will consist of conducting studies with non-disabled people, before embarking on the first tests with sick people.
The secret lies in its programming and its ability to have an “artificial memory”. The objective is to make it a real companion for dependent people who may have a failing memory.
To conduct this research, they used a Fetch mobile manipulator robot, which they use in many other experiments. Equipped with a camera, he can perceive the world around him. Using an algorithm dedicated to object detection, these researchers managed to program the robot to recognize, track and remember specific objects in its field of vision.
Concretely, he can distinguish different objects and record their movements to better find them if necessary. In addition, a graphic interface has been specially developed so that users can choose the objects they want to track and be able to find them from their phone or computer.
The first tests have already been carried out, knowing that caregivers could soon be called upon to improve this project a little more. A next step will consist of conducting studies with non-disabled people, before embarking on the first tests with sick people.