Bring, the robot utilized in the research study. Credit: University of Waterloo
Ayub and three colleagues were struck by the quickly rising number of people managing dementia, a condition that restricts brain function, triggering confusion, memory loss, and disability. A number of these individuals consistently forget the location of daily items, which reduces their lifestyle and places additional burdens on caregivers.
Engineers believed a buddy robotic with an episodic memory of its own could be a game-changer in such circumstances. And they succeeded in utilizing expert system to create a new sort of synthetic memory.
The research study group began with a Fetch mobile manipulator robotic, which has an electronic camera for viewing the world around it.
Next, using an object-detection algorithm, they set the robotic to discover, track and keep a memory log of particular things in its cam view through kept video. With the robot efficient in differentiating one things from another, it can record the time and date items enter or leave its view.
Researchers then developed a visual interface to allow users to select objects they wish to be tracked and, after typing the objects names, look for them on a mobile phone app or computer. The robotic can show when and where it last observed the specific things when that occurs.
Tests have shown the system is extremely precise. And while some individuals with dementia may find the technology difficult, Ayub stated caregivers could easily use it.
Moving forward, scientists will conduct user research studies with people without impairments, then individuals with dementia.
Reference: “Where is My Phone?: Towards Developing an Episodic Memory Model for Companion Robots to Track Users Salient Objects” by Juhi Shah, Ali Ayub, Chrystopher L. Nehaniv and Kerstin Dautenhahn, 13 March 2023, ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction 2023. DOI: 10.1145/ 3568294.3580160.
Everybody has actually experienced the frustration of losing their phone at some point. Thankfully, a brand-new robot is here to help.
New “synthetic memory” allows robotics to assist find lost items.
Engineers from the University of Waterloo have actually developed an innovative approach for shows robots to assist individuals with dementia in finding lost products such as medication, glasses, or phones.
The main goal is to support this particular demographic, the innovation holds the prospective to benefit anyone who has experienced the aggravation of losing a things and browsing tirelessly for it.
” The long-term effect of this is really amazing,” said Dr. Ali Ayub, a post-doctoral fellow in electrical and computer system engineering. “A user can be included not just with a buddy robotic however an individualized buddy robotic that can give them more independence.”