Immersive robotic telepresence system to support a person with intellectual and motor disabilities perform a daily task: a case study
Journal of Enabling Technologies
ISSN: 2398-6263
Article publication date: 3 November 2022
Issue publication date: 13 March 2023
Abstract
Purpose
In this proof-of-concept study, the authors assessed the feasibility of using a humanoid robot controlled remotely via an immersive telepresence system to support a person with intellectual and motor disabilities performing a daily task (i.e. setting a table for lunch).
Design/methodology/approach
The system involved a head-mounted display and two joysticks. A teleoperator was able to see through the video cameras of the robot and deliver the instructions verbally to the participant located in a different room. To assess the system, a baseline phase (A) was followed by an intervention (i.e. tele-operated support) phase (B) and a return to a baseline phase (A).
Findings
Data showed a marked increase in the average frequency of task steps correctly performed from baseline (M = 15%) to intervention (M = 93%). Accuracy reached 100% in the return to baseline.
Originality/value
These preliminary findings, along with qualitative feedback from users, suggest that an immersive telepresence system may be used to provide remote support to people with intellectual and motor disabilities.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Ethical approval: The study has been approved by the ethical and scientific board of the center in which the study took place.
Informed consent from participants: Given the inability of Lucy to read and write, her parents signed an informed consent form for the study which had previously been approved by the ethical and scientific board of the day activity center in which the study took place.
Data availability statement: Data are available for download on Open Science Framework: 10.17605/OSF.IO/WFN49. Link: https://mfr.osf.io/render?url=https://osf.io/8e25w/?direct%26mode=render%26action=download%26mode=render
Competing interests: The authors report no conflict of interests.
Funding: The study was in part funded by Fondazione CARISBO under the project RoBò.
Author contributions: LD and LC conceptualized the study. LD, LC and CS implemented the study and collected the data. LD analyzed the data and wrote a first draft of the paper. All authors reviewed the first draft and contributed to writing of successive versions.
Citation
Desideri, L., Cesario, L., Sidoti, C. and Malavasi, M. (2023), "Immersive robotic telepresence system to support a person with intellectual and motor disabilities perform a daily task: a case study", Journal of Enabling Technologies, Vol. 17 No. 1, pp. 12-22. https://doi.org/10.1108/JET-05-2022-0042
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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