THE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF ROBOTIC SYSTEMS FOR THE ORTHOPEDICALLY HANDICAPPED.

THE USE OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES IN THE DELIVERY OF SERVICES TO HANDICAPPED PERSONS INCLUDES A VARIETY OF HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE MEANT TO ENHANCE THEIR PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE ABILITIES. RECENT ADVANCES IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF ROBOTIC MANIPULATORS INDICATE THAT THEY HAVE GREAT PROMISE AS PROSTHETIC AIDS FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS. ROBOTIC DEVICES PROMISE TO ONE DAY PROVIDE A GREATER DEGREE OF PERSONAL INDEPENDENCE AND VOCATIONAL ACCESS FOR HANDICAPPED PERSONS. THE PROPOSED PROJECT INVOLVES ONE ENGINEERING AND TWO EDUCATIONAL GOALS DEEMED CRITICAL IN THE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF ROBOTIC SYSTEMS FOR USE BY THE ORTHOPEDICALLYHANDICAPPED. THE THREE GOALS INCLUDE A TECHNICAL ENGINEERING PLAN, A TRAINING PLAN AND AN INVESTIGATION OF COGNITIVE AND AFFECTIVE ISSUES. THE OUTCOME OF THE OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATED WITH EACH GOAL INCLUDE:(1) A PLAN FOR THE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF A FUNCTIONAL ROBOT SYSTEM FOR THE TARGET POPULATION, (2) A TRAINING METHODOLOGY THAT FACILITATES THE ACQUISITION OF KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS IN USING A ROBOTIC MANIPULATOR, AND (3) THE SPECIFICATION OF RESEARCHABLE QUESTIONS AND AN EVALUATIVE METHODOLOGY FOR INVESTIGATING VISUAL-SPATIAL ISSUES. THE PRIMARY BENEFITS OF THE ROBOTIC TECHNOLOGIES BEING DEVELOPED IN THIS PROJECT AND THE PHASE II EFFORT WOULD BE IN THE AREA OF PERSONAL INDEPENDENCE GAINED FROM THE INCREASED PHYSICAL CONTROL AFFORDED BY THE DEVICES. IN ADDITION, A FUNCTIONAL, STANDARDIZED ROBOTIC SYSTEM WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION ON A WIDESPREAD BASIS DURING A PHASE III EFFORT.