Voice Control Interface Prototype for Assistive Robots for People Living with Upper Limb Disabilities

Area of Science:

• Robotics
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Assistive Technology

Background:

• Assistive robotic devices offer increased autonomy for individuals with upper-body disabilities.
• Conventional control systems (e.g., joystick, sip-and-puff) can be challenging for users with severe upper limb impairments.
• There is a need for more intuitive and fluid control methods for assistive robots.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the design and preliminary evaluation of a voice command interface prototype for controlling assistive robotic arms.
• To make the control of assistive robots more intuitive and fluid.
• To enable users to perform tasks in less time and with less effort.

Main Methods:

• Development of a voice command interface prototype for assistive robotic arms.
• Conducting two experiments with five able-bodied subjects to evaluate the system's performance.
• Collecting data to guide future system development and refinement.

Main Results:

• The paper details the design of the voice control interface prototype.
• Preliminary evaluation experiments were conducted with able-bodied subjects.
• Performance data was gathered to inform subsequent iterations of the system.

Conclusions:

• The developed voice command interface shows potential for improving assistive robot control.
• Further development is guided by the preliminary experimental results.
• The system aims to enhance the independence and efficiency of users with upper limb disabilities.