Assistance Robot Race

ROB

About the Discipline

Managing daily life autonomously with an assistance robot

One of the two new disciplines in the CYBATHLON competition! People with severe motor impairments or missing limbs, both upper and lower limbs, have limited autonomy when interacting with their physical environment. Tasks such as shopping for groceries independently, personal hygiene or clearing out the dishwasher are just a few examples of where these people might depend on a care person. Assistance robots are a relatively new category of assistive devices which can support a person with limited motor control in daily life. They can take over some of the tasks which are otherwise done by a care person. To become a fully accepted technology, these devices must be seamlessly integrated and make a meaningful contribution to the diverse domains of daily life. Their use must be effortless and reliable, while providing diverse functions, such as manipulating delicate objects skilfully or avoiding obstacles autonomously. Assistance robots have the promising potential to increase the autonomy of people who have very little to no voluntary motor control of their limbs due to their disability.

The competition tasks will contain elements of human-robot interaction. Both pilots and robots will have to recognise and manipulate various objects and avoid obstacles on the track. Tackling tasks under a time constraint will be included. Some of the competition tasks will contain dynamic elements to which the pilots have to react.

Who can participate?

Pilots:

People who are wheelchair users in daily life and have a severe impairment of both upper limbs due to central nervous system disease or injury, neurological or muscular disease, or bilateral amputation in the area of the shoulder joint.

Technology

The envisioned technology comprises a robotic manipulator attached to a mobile platform. The mobile platform can be the pilot’s own wheelchair or an auxiliary device. Only actively driven robotic manipulators are permitted. Personal assistance robots can be operated in manual, semi-autonomous, or autonomous modes. Input devices can include any standard or novel technology such as a hand joystick, a tongue drive, a touchpad, or any other technology. Load transfer to the ground can occur using wheels, tracks, or other means. Robots with legs or wheels are also allowed. The use of any technical modality such as ultrasound to collect information about the environment is also permitted.

Information for Teams:

Are you a member of a team or interested in more detailed information, click here.

Assistance Robots - What do you picture?

Meet the ROB-Teams

ROB

BFH-FAIR (CH)

1 Fan

ROB

EDAN (DE)

1 Fan

ROB

RSL (CH)

no fans yet

ROB

SmartArM ROB (FR)

no fans yet

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