Current State
The current state of assistive robotics is advanced enough for
patients with spinal cord (tetraplegia) injury to manipulate
physics objects in a “semi-structured office workstation
environment.” The ProVAR (Professional Vocation Assistant Robot)
allows an individual to execute vocational tasks, which are
complex and robust. This robot consists of an arm “mounted
overhead on a transverse, motorized track” and is controlled by
the user in a three dimensional representation of the work. This
robot has been tested to be “robust, safe, [and] senior-based
control of the manipulator.” In addition, the dynamic control
environment allows tasks such as application of medication or
handling drinks, paper, and other such portable and small items.
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