Related papers: BUDD-e: an autonomous robotic guide for visually i…
In today's society, where independent living is becoming increasingly important, it can be extremely constricting for those who are blind. Blind and visually impaired (BVI) people face challenges because they need manual support to prompt…
The number of visually impaired or blind (VIB) people in the world is estimated at several hundred million. Based on a series of interviews with the VIB and developers of assistive technology, this paper provides a survey of…
Legged robots, particularly quadrupeds, offer promising navigation capabilities, especially in scenarios requiring traversal over diverse terrains and obstacle avoidance. This paper addresses the challenge of enabling legged robots to…
Most Bayesian response-adaptive designs unbalance randomization rates towards the most promising arms with the goal of increasing the number of positive treatment outcomes during the study, even though the primary aim of the trial is…
This paper explores the challenges faced by assistive robots in effectively cooperating with humans, requiring them to anticipate human behavior, predict their actions' impact, and generate understandable robot actions. The study focuses on…
Socially Assistive Robots represent a valid solution for improving the quality of life and the mood of older adults. In this context, this work presents the CloudIA robot, a non-human-like robot intended to promote sociality and well-being…
This paper presents an implementation of autonomous navigation functionality based on Robot Operating System (ROS) on a wheeled differential drive mobile platform called Eddie robot. ROS is a framework that contains many reusable software…
It is fundamental for personal robots to reliably navigate to a specified goal. To study this task, PointGoal navigation has been introduced in simulated Embodied AI environments. Recent advances solve this PointGoal navigation task with…
This paper introduces a live object recognition system that serves as a blind aid. Visually impaired people heavily rely on their other senses such as touch and auditory signals for understanding the environment around them. The act of…
Assistive robotic systems have shown growing potential to improve the quality of life of those with disabilities. As researchers explore the automation of various caregiving tasks, considerations for how the technology can still preserve…
This project concerns developing and validating an image guidance framework for application to a robotic-assisted fibular reduction in ankle fracture surgery. The aim is to produce and demonstrate proper functioning of software for…
This work proposes a biologically inspired approach that focuses on attention systems that are able to inhibit or constrain what is relevant at any one moment. We propose a radically new approach to making progress in human-robot joint…
The ability to localise a smart device is very useful to visually or cognitively impaired people. Localisation-capable technologies are becoming more readily available as off-the-shelf components. In this paper, we highlight the need for…
This paper presents and experimentally demonstrates a novel framework for variable assistance on lower body exoskeletons, based upon safety-critical control methods. Existing work has shown that providing some freedom of movement around a…
This article presents an application that evaluates the feasibility of humanoid robots as interactive guides in art museums. The application entailes programming a NAO robot and a chatbot to provide information about art pieces in a…
Blind individuals face persistent challenges in last-mile navigation, including locating entrances, identifying obstacles, and navigating complex or cluttered spaces. Although wearable cameras are increasingly used in assistive systems,…
Autonomous agents such as cars, robots and drones need to precisely localize themselves in diverse environments, including in GPS-denied indoor environments. One approach for precise localization is visual place recognition (VPR), which…
Visual assistive technologies, such as Microsoft Seeing AI, can improve access to environmental information for persons with blindness or low vision (pBLV). Yet, the physical and functional implications of different device embodiments…
In this article, we report on the design and evaluation of an external human-machine interface (eHMI) for a real autonomous vehicle (AV), developed to operate as a shared transport pod in a pedestrianized urban space. We present insights…
Bayesian response adaptive clinical trials are currently evaluating experimental therapies for several diseases. Adaptive decisions, such as pre-planned variations of the randomization probabilities, attempt to accelerate the development of…