Immersive participatory design of assistive robots to support older adults

• DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2024.2312529
• Publication Date: 2024-02-14T08:34:25Z
• Authors: Samuel A. Olatunji; Vy Nguyen; Maya Cakmak; Aaron Edsinger; Charles C. Kemp; Wendy A. Rogers; Harshal P. Mahajan
• Keywords: Participatory Design; Assistive Technology

Assistive robots have the potential to support independence, enhance safety, and lower healthcare costs for older adults, as well alleviate demands of their care partners. However, ensuring that these will effectively reliably address end-user needs in long term requires user-specific design factors be considered during robot development process. To identify factors, we embedded Stretch, a mobile manipulator created by Hello Robot Inc., home an adult with motor impairments his partner four weeks them everyday activities. An occupational therapist robotics engineer lived this period, employing immersive participatory approach co-design customise them. We highlight benefits experience provide insights into can applied broadly other assistive technologies.