NAO robot for cooperative rehabilitation training

Abstract

Introduction The aim of this research is to develop a robot-assistive training approach for the disabled individuals with impaired upper limb functions. People with impaired upper limb function can regain their motor functionality undergoing intense rehabilitation exercises. With increasing number of disabled individuals, we face deficiency in the number of expert therapists. One promising remedy could be the use of robotic assistive devices. Method To instruct and demonstrate rehabilitation exercise, this research used NAO robot. A library of recommended rehabilitation exercises involving shoulder (i.e., abduction/adduction, vertical flexion/extension, and internal/external rotation), and elbow (i.e., flexion/extension) joint movements was formed in Choregraphe (graphical programming interface). For this purpose, a kinematic model of human upper-extremity was developed based on modified Denavit-Hartenberg notations. Result In experiments, NAO robot gave voice instruction and was maneuvered to cooperate and demonstrate the exercises from the library. NAO also plays some complex game with the subject that represents a multi-joint movement's exercise, which was also included in the library. Conclusions Experimental results with healthy participants reveal that the NAO robot can successfully instruct and demonstrate upper-extremity rehabilitation exercises for single and multi-joint movements. It implies a technical development of cooperative rehabilitation system for which target group will be individuals with upper limb impairment.

What Makes a Robot Social? A Review of Social Robots from Science Fiction to a Home or Hospital Near You

“…Moreover, clinicians and patients in this study found the intervention with Pepper to be engaging, motivating, and most importantly meeting the needs of upper limb rehabilitation. Similar work has examined how the smaller, less expensive Nao robot can also deliver physical therapy for upper limb impairment, and shows similar effectiveness of this robot in rehabilitation contexts with adults [ 86 ]. Furthermore, Chen and colleagues [ 87 ] have shown that an even more compact and simple social robot (Darwin from RobotLab, San Francisco, CA, USA) can be effectively deployed to assist with children with and without cerebral palsy performing reach actions.…”

“…While it remains uncontroversial that social robots do not (yet) offer the same opportunities as humans for social interactions [33], they can nonetheless afford valuable opportunities for social engagement with human users when introduced in specific contexts, and in careful, ethically responsible ways [83,84]. A growing evidence base documents how social robots might function as autonomous tools to support psychological health interventions [42,85], physical therapy and physical health [86][87][88], and other means to amplify or support human therapeutic efforts (see [89•, 90]). Moreover, social robots are being equipped with technologies such as sensors, cameras, and processors, which promote the collection of human data (such as where a person is standing, where they are looking, what they are saying, etc.)…”

What Makes a Robot Social? A Review of Social Robots from Fiction to a Home or Hospital Near You

“…Moreover, clinicians and patients in this study found the intervention with Pepper to be engaging, motivating, and most importantlymeeting the needs of upper limb rehabilitation. Similar work has examined how the smaller, less expensive Nao robot can also deliver physical therapy for upper limb impairment, and shows similar effectiveness of this robot in rehabilitation contexts with adults[86]. Furthermore, Chen and colleagues[87] have shown that an even more compact and simple social robot (Darwin from RobotLab, San Francisco, CA, USA) can be effectively deployed to assist with children with and without cerebral palsy performing reach actions.…”

“…offer the same opportunities as humans for social interactions [33], they can nonetheless afford valuable opportunities for social engagement with human users when introduced in specific contexts, and in careful, ethically responsible ways [83,84]. A growing evidence base documents how social robots might function as autonomous tools to support psychological health interventions [42,85], physical therapy and physical health [86,87,88], and other means to amplify or support human therapeutic efforts (see [89,90] In contrast, health interventions where more active participation is required are finding that robots with a more human-like embodiment are more effective. One such study by da Silva and colleagues [95] tested an intervention for students with the humanoid Nao robot, aimed at encouraging their motivation to exercise through motivational interviewing.…”

Intelligent Interactive Technologies for Mental Health and Well-Being

“…It has multiple degrees of freedom and sensors, as well as the integrated speech recognition support. There is a wide range of applications of NAO robot, including interventions for children with ASD [14], diabetes management [15], reduction of apathy and stabilization of cognitive performance in advanced dementia patients [16], supporting the learning of pupils with severe intellectual disabilities [17], rehabilitation training [18], reducing pediatric distress and pain in medical settings [19], and logopedic interventions [20,21]. Pepper is a humanoid robot that uses the same underlying platform.…”