Robots could replace service dogs for disabled people

October 29, 2008

Georgia Tech's robot (left) obeys the same commands as service dogs (right) to help disabled people perform tasks.

Researchers from Georgia Tech are designing a robot to take the place of service dogs that help disabled people with everyday activities. Like a service dog, the robot can fetch objects and open drawers on command.

Unlike service dogs, which cost about $16,000 to train, the robots would likely be reasonably priced and more widely available. It takes about two years to train a service dog, and many people are on waiting lists for years to get a canine helper.

To interact with the service robot, people would point a laser at an object, similar to a gesture with a service dog. The laser directs the robot toward the object. Then, the person gives a verbal command to the robot, just like speaking to a service dog. Verbal commands can communicate more complex tasks, such as opening a door or drawer or fetching a certain object.

"We wanted to integrate verbal communications with the pointing, and it turns out that is exactly how people interact with dogs – they gesture and then they give a verbal command,” said Charlie Kemp, a professor in Georgia Tech. “So we were able to combine our laser pointer, that's used as a gesture, with just a short verbal command which is identical [to] what's used with dogs."

Kemp said that the robot, with its sensors and grippers, can perform the same tasks as a service dog.

via: EE Times

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