Characterizing the Effects of Adding Virtual and Augmented Reality in Robot-Assisted Training

Area of Science:

• Robotics
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Rehabilitation Technology

Background:

• Extended reality (XR) integrates physical and virtual realities for immersive user experiences.
• Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are key XR subdomains with varying immersion levels.
• Combining XR with robot-assisted training shows promise for improving postural control.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effectiveness of robot-assisted posture training augmented with VR or AR against robotic training alone.
• To evaluate the impact of XR integration on postural control improvement.
• To assess user experience, including simulator sickness, between VR and AR interventions.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled experiment involving sixty-three healthy subjects.
• Utilized a robotic Trunk Support Trainer (TruST) for assistive force delivery during stability limit training.
• Compared training outcomes between groups receiving TruST alone, TruST with VR, and TruST with AR.

Main Results:

• Both VR and AR significantly enhanced the training outcomes of the TruST intervention.
• The AR group reported less simulator sickness compared to the VR group.
• AR is suggested as more suitable for sitting posture training with the TruST intervention.

Conclusions:

• XR technologies add significant value to robot-assisted training protocols.
• AR integration with robotic training offers a promising alternative to VR, particularly for seated postural training.
• The study developed a custom XR application for TruST and suggests a framework for future XR-enhanced robotic training platforms.