Robot Arm Control System for Assisted Feeding of People With Disabilities in Their Upper Limbs

This work proposes a robot arm control system for assisted feeding of people with reduced functionality in their upper limbs. It aims at improving their quality of life by helping users recover their independence when feeding, aided by the proposed system. Previous research presents solutions that o...

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Main Authors: Daniella Arnáez, Fiorela Manco, José Oliden, Guillermo Kemper
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: International Institute of Informatics and Cybernetics 2022-08-01
Series:Journal of Systemics, Cybernetics and Informatics
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.iiisci.org/Journal/PDV/sci/pdfs/SA312HN22.pdf
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author Daniella Arnáez
Fiorela Manco
José Oliden
Guillermo Kemper
author_facet Daniella Arnáez
Fiorela Manco
José Oliden
Guillermo Kemper
author_sort Daniella Arnáez
collection DOAJ
description This work proposes a robot arm control system for assisted feeding of people with reduced functionality in their upper limbs. It aims at improving their quality of life by helping users recover their independence when feeding, aided by the proposed system. Previous research presents solutions that often lack functionality to meet the user's needs, such as a lack of emergency functions or the use of passive feeding techniques, due to the absence of adequate human-robot interaction. The proposed solution involves the design of an interface adapter between the robot arm and the spoon, for the correct transport and positioning of the food. Moreover, a PD-type electronic controller is implemented for the robot arm; it includes gravity compensation and trajectories defined from the detection of the user's position. Additionally, the system has two safety features: an emergency button and a proximity warning that triggers when undesired objects are too close to the robot arm. The proposed system was validated through position tests and interaction with people using rice and oatmeal. When carrying out the tests with rice, 80% success was obtained, while in the case of oatmeal, 98.9% success was achieved.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1690-4524
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publishDate 2022-08-01
publisher International Institute of Informatics and Cybernetics
record_format Article
series Journal of Systemics, Cybernetics and Informatics
spelling doaj-art-6fdbca54e8114c63bacbf7aa77e119a42025-08-20T03:53:38ZengInternational Institute of Informatics and CyberneticsJournal of Systemics, Cybernetics and Informatics1690-45242022-08-012044552Robot Arm Control System for Assisted Feeding of People With Disabilities in Their Upper LimbsDaniella ArnáezFiorela MancoJosé OlidenGuillermo KemperThis work proposes a robot arm control system for assisted feeding of people with reduced functionality in their upper limbs. It aims at improving their quality of life by helping users recover their independence when feeding, aided by the proposed system. Previous research presents solutions that often lack functionality to meet the user's needs, such as a lack of emergency functions or the use of passive feeding techniques, due to the absence of adequate human-robot interaction. The proposed solution involves the design of an interface adapter between the robot arm and the spoon, for the correct transport and positioning of the food. Moreover, a PD-type electronic controller is implemented for the robot arm; it includes gravity compensation and trajectories defined from the detection of the user's position. Additionally, the system has two safety features: an emergency button and a proximity warning that triggers when undesired objects are too close to the robot arm. The proposed system was validated through position tests and interaction with people using rice and oatmeal. When carrying out the tests with rice, 80% success was obtained, while in the case of oatmeal, 98.9% success was achieved.http://www.iiisci.org/Journal/PDV/sci/pdfs/SA312HN22.pdf active feedingupper limbscontrol systemfeeding assistancedisabilityrobot arm
spellingShingle Daniella Arnáez
Fiorela Manco
José Oliden
Guillermo Kemper
Robot Arm Control System for Assisted Feeding of People With Disabilities in Their Upper Limbs
Journal of Systemics, Cybernetics and Informatics
active feeding
upper limbs
control system
feeding assistance
disability
robot arm
title Robot Arm Control System for Assisted Feeding of People With Disabilities in Their Upper Limbs
title_full Robot Arm Control System for Assisted Feeding of People With Disabilities in Their Upper Limbs
title_fullStr Robot Arm Control System for Assisted Feeding of People With Disabilities in Their Upper Limbs
title_full_unstemmed Robot Arm Control System for Assisted Feeding of People With Disabilities in Their Upper Limbs
title_short Robot Arm Control System for Assisted Feeding of People With Disabilities in Their Upper Limbs
title_sort robot arm control system for assisted feeding of people with disabilities in their upper limbs
topic active feeding
upper limbs
control system
feeding assistance
disability
robot arm
url http://www.iiisci.org/Journal/PDV/sci/pdfs/SA312HN22.pdf
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AT fiorelamanco robotarmcontrolsystemforassistedfeedingofpeoplewithdisabilitiesintheirupperlimbs
AT joseoliden robotarmcontrolsystemforassistedfeedingofpeoplewithdisabilitiesintheirupperlimbs
AT guillermokemper robotarmcontrolsystemforassistedfeedingofpeoplewithdisabilitiesintheirupperlimbs