Transform the Trajectory of a Student’s Life: Support ARCS’ Fishing Rod Internship Program



Transform the Trajectory of a Student’s Life: Support ARCS’ Fishing Rod Internship Program



CSUN ARCS

Research Project

Wheelchair Assist Technology and Co-bot Helper Robot (WATCHER)

Research Team

Lead Researchers:

  • Prof. Amiel Hartman, ME
  • Dr. Kacie Blackman, HSCI
  • Dr. Xunfei Jiang, CS
  • Dr. Nhut Ho, ME

Collaborators:

    Student Team:

    • Megan Ngo, MBA
    • Danielle Sanchez, SOC
    • Shari Salas, ME
    • Chinedu Egbujor, CS
    • Avni Israni, CS
    • Dami Adenugba, CS
    • Radian Avetisyan CS
    • Brendan Ascorra, CS
    • Daniel Betancourt, CS
    • Grigor Azakian, CS

    Funding

    • Funding Organization:
    • Funding Program:

    SYNOPSIS

    • Development of semi-autonomous wheelchair and socially aware robot
      health aid to encourage community participation for persons with low
      mobility
    • Integrating autonomous navigation capabilities into an electric powered
      wheelchair can enhance mobility for daily living activities
    • A social robot that encourages engagement with other persons in the
      community can have a positive effect on physical and mental health
    • Analyzing vital and social data can be used to better evaluate human health
    Diagrams describing Social Robot, Human Data, and Smart Wheelchair
    Research Objectives

    • Develop a Smart Wheelchair mobility platform using a electric powered wheelchair and autonomous navigation capabilities from robotics

    • Design and program social interaction features using semi-humanoid robot Pepper

    • Human body data collection and analysis using platform integrated sensors and wearable devices

    Research Methods/Approach

    • Integrate navigation sensors and software autonomy into a commercially available electric powered wheelchair

    • Develop Pepper robot voice interaction and tablet user interface for social engagement

    • Track body vital data to improve interaction between wheelchair user and assistive technology

    Research Results and Deliverables

    • Smart wheelchair adapted with a hybrid control interface, vision sensors, and autonomous navigation capabilities for enhanced mobility

    • Human data collection with wearables, smart wheelchair integrated sensors, and social robot sensing

    • Integration of conversational AI with semi-humanoid robot and user interface development for audio/visual human-robot social interaction

    Commercialization Opportunities

    • Application: Intelligent medical mobility and health monitoring

    • Key Values: Enhanced power wheelchair safety and reduced cognitive load

    • Potential Customers: Wheelchair users, care facilities, transportation

    Research Timeline

    Start Date:
    End Date: 

    Research Team

    Lead Researchers:

    • Prof. Amiel Hartman, ME
    • Dr. Kacie Blackman, HSCI
    • Dr. Xunfei Jiang, CS
    • Dr. Nhut Ho, ME

    Collaborators:

      Student Team:

      • Megan Ngo, MBA
      • Danielle Sanchez, SOC
      • Shari Salas, ME
      • Chinedu Egbujor, CS
      • Avni Israni, CS
      • Dami Adenugba, CS
      • Radian Avetisyan CS
      • Brendan Ascorra, CS
      • Daniel Betancourt, CS
      • Grigor Azakian, CS

      Funding

      • Funding Organization:
      • Funding Program: