Recent trends in the development and evaluation of assistive robotic manipulation devices.
This review explores recent trends in the development and evaluation of assistive robotic arms, both prosthetic and externally mounted. Evaluations have been organized according to the CATOR taxonomy of assistive device outcomes, which takes into consideration device effectiveness, social significance, and impact on subjective well-being. Questions that have informed the review include: (1) Are robotic arms being comprehensively evaluated along axes of the CATOR taxonomy? (2) Are definitions of effectiveness in accordance with the priorities of users? (3) What gaps in robotic arm evaluation exist, and how might these best be addressed? (4) What further advances can be expected in the next 15 years? Results highlight the need for increased standardization of evaluation methods, increased emphasis on the social significance (i.e., social cost) of devices, and increased emphasis on device impact on quality of life. Several open areas for future research, in terms of both device evaluation and device development, are also discussed.
Allin
Sonya
S
Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Intelligent Assistive Technology and Systems Laboratory, University of Toronto, 160-500 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1V7, Canada. s.allin@utoronto.ca
Eckel
Emily
E
Markham
Heather
H
Brewer
Bambi R
BR
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D001185:Artificial Intelligence; D001186:Artificial Limbs / Q000639:trends; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005246:Feedback; D006801:Humans; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated; D011788:Quality of Life; D012371:Robotics / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000639:trends; D012656:Self-Help Devices / Q000639:trends; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical