Objective
The aim of RAID is to develop and demonstrate a prototype robotic workstation which is designed to widen the vocational opportunities available to motor-impaired people. The workstation is intended for office use and consists of a PC, a fax, a telephone, a printer, a range of manuals and catalogues and a robot manipulator, all operated from a joy stick driven controller mounted on the user's wheelchair.
The prototype version of RAID is aimed at quadriplegic users typically with a C4 lesion, but would also be suitable for sufferers from arthritis, motor neurone disease and possibly muscular dystrophy and cerebral palsy.
The prototype version is to be configured to demonstrate a CAD workstation in which the user, by using a single joy stick input device, can operate the CAD system and its peripherals, and can accomplish a wide range of ancillary functions such as telephone, fax and printer control, book and paper handling, environmental control and personal needs servicing such as refreshments.
The precise functionality is determined by reference to user requirements which have been elucidated as the first activity in the project. The objective is to provide the disabled workstation user with sufficient independence to enable him to work substantially unaided in a normal office environment.
In principle, the prototype version should handle a range of graphical layout tasks, such as desk- top publishing and art work in addition to CAD. Trials with the prototype will show a range of other vocational tasks which could be undertaken by modifications to the functionality. These include librarian and secretarial functions, production control and scheduling tasks, and possibly a range of domestic duties such as meal preparation which would be of value to home-based elderly and disabled people. These modifications, together with other upgrades shown to be desirable, would be the subject of a subsequent project aimed at a full version of RAID.
The consortium involved in the RAID project represents many years of experience in providing advanced aids to disabled people. It consists of two SMEs that are active in design and manufacturing of rehabilitation and industrial robots, a workstation design SME, a government institute with a long history in R&D in robotic manipulators, for industrial and rehabilitation use, two universities that have carried out since several years research into robotics for disabled and a rehabilitation and training centre.
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HP9 2JL Beaconsfield
United Kingdom