title: Assistant Personal Robot (APR): Conception and Application of a Tele-Operated Assisted Living Robot.
abstract: This paper presents the technical description, mechanical design, electronic components, software implementation and possible applications of a tele-operated mobile robot designed as an assisted living tool. This robotic concept has been named Assistant Personal Robot (or APR for short) and has been designed as a remotely telecontrolled robotic platform built to provide social and assistive services to elderly people and those with impaired mobility. The APR features a fast high-mobility motion system adapted for tele-operation in plain indoor areas, which incorporates a high-priority collision avoidance procedure. This paper presents the mechanical architecture, electrical fundaments and software implementation required in order to develop the main functionalities of an assistive robot. The APR uses a tablet in order to implement the basic peer-to-peer videoconference and tele-operation control combined with a tactile graphic user interface. The paper also presents the development of some applications proposed in the framework of an assisted living robot.
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science and Industrial Engineering, Universitat de Lleida, Jaume II, 69, 25001 Lleida, Spain. eclotet@diei.udl.cat.
authors.forename: Eduard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Clotet
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science and Industrial Engineering, Universitat de Lleida, Jaume II, 69, 25001 Lleida, Spain. dmartinez@diei.udl.cat.
authors.forename: Dani
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science and Industrial Engineering, Universitat de Lleida, Jaume II, 69, 25001 Lleida, Spain. jmoreno@diei.udl.cat.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science and Industrial Engineering, Universitat de Lleida, Jaume II, 69, 25001 Lleida, Spain. mtresanchez@diei.udl.cat.
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tresanchez
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science and Industrial Engineering, Universitat de Lleida, Jaume II, 69, 25001 Lleida, Spain. palacin@diei.udl.cat.
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Palacín
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D012371:Robotics; D012656:Self-Help Devices; D012984:Software
keywords: Assistant Personal Robot; assisted living; mobile robot; peer-to-peer video; telecontrol