Assistive Robotics
Many people if asked to describe what mental picture the word "robot" conjures, up would describe something from science fiction. Of course we all know what a robot is like at the start of the 21st century, but often our mental images are guided more by science fiction than science reality. The reality is probably a car assembly robot rather than the evil Dalek of Dr Who, or the friendly C3PO of Star Wars.
Originally most robots were used as tools in a manufacturing environment, whether spraying, welding or assembling. These are normally referred to as assembly robots. Over the past 20 years there has been much research in the area of "advanced robotics". This has been defined thus by the Department of Trade & Industry:
“The integration of enabling technologies and attributes embracing manipulators, mobility, sensors, computing and hierarchical control to result ultimately in a robot capable of autonomously complementing man’s endeavours in unstructured and hostile environments”.
It has long been realised that, while robotics will continue to have a vital role in manufacturing industry, the areas for growth lie in applications in "unstructured and hostile environments". Many applications in an unstructured environment are "service" applications. Service robots have for a while been used for cleaning the Paris metro. Robots have been developed to deliver items around a hospital. The first consumer products are likely to be for tasks such as vacuum cleaning and cutting the lawn. Hazardous environments where robots will be of benefit include space and underwater, within a nuclear reactor, the making safe of bombs and mines and, nearer to home, building sites.
There is a organization for assistive technology. It is called the Foundation of Assistive Technology (FAST). FAST is a national charity working with users of assistive technology to maximise their independence. They bring together people who use assistive technology, researchers, developers, manufacturers and service providers to build effective partnerships. Their aim is to ensure that development of assistive technology and improvements to service delivery are led by the needs and wishes of users. to go to their web site, go to FAST.
