Activity profile: Robotics and Smart Environment Technologies - SSSA University

The main research fields investigated at ARTS Lab are the Robotics and Technology for Assistance and Services, the Ambient Assisted Living (AAL), the Neuro-Robotics for (Tele) Rehabilitation and Prosthesis. The aim of ARTS Lab is carrying out scientifically advanced researches in these fields that bring to develop technological solutions that are really implementable in real life. To understand who are the final users (features, needs, habits, expectations) and which is the real context of use and to develop technologies really usable and acceptable by end users, all studies follow the User Centred Design methodology and involve real end users in all stages of the research. This is possible thanks to the strong collaboration between the SSSA and hospitals, clinical centres, public agencies providing socio-medical services, municipalities of Pisa’s district that give us the possibility to interact with final users.

The Robotics and Technology for Assistance and Services deals with topics related to the design and development of assistive devices to help disabled and not self-sufficient persons in carrying out tasks of daily life (eating, mobility, manipulation, hygiene, etc.). The ARTS Lab was involved in several national and European projects related to this research field: MOVAID (1999) - robot for personal assistance in activities of daily life; SELFEED (2004) e DEDALO (2006) – mechatronic device supporting feeding tasks; RISDOM (2004) – analysis of domestic risks and identification of devices to increase and improve the safety at home; SORRISO (2004) – integration of wearable systems to monitor bodily temperature, humidity and ECG; MOVEMENT (2005) – modular systems to increase and boost the personal mobility; DUSTBOT (2006) – networked and cooperating robots for urban hygiene; URUS (2006) – ubiquitous networking robotics in urban settings; ENABLE (2008) – technological solutions and services aiming at favouring and encouraging the autonomy and the reintegration of disabled people at work.

The AAL faces up to subjects related to the design, develop and implement systems and services for the monitoring and assistance of elderly, disabled and not autonomous people conceived according real needs of primary users (patients and caregivers). Actually researchers of ARTS Lab are involved in several projects related to AAL field: AALIANCE (2008) – definition of Roadmaps and Strategic Research Agenda for AAL researches in Europe; Mantova Alzheimer (2008) – smart environment systems to assist at home persons suffering from Alzheimer disease; RITA (2010) – design smart environments and wearable devices for elderly persons, based on the study of wireless sensor systems and advanced algorithms to manage and recognize complex events that occur in nursery homes and in domiciliary contexts; ASTROMOBILE (2010) – “companion” robot for domiciliary assistance that is made of mobile platform and innovative human-machine interfaces and is able to move inside houses and to interact with people.

The Neuro-Robotics for (Tele)Rehabilitation and Prosthetics integrates the fields of neuroscience and robotics in order to conceived and develop advanced smart solutions useful both for the recovery of neural and motor abilities after disabling events, such as stroke, and, in case of amputation, to re-establish functionalities lost by the damaged limb thanks to smart prosthetics able to perform movements similar to natural ones and easily and naturally controlled by the subject. The projects in which ARTS Lab was involved and are related to this field are: CYBERHAND (2002) – cosmetic and dexterous artificial hand with a bio-inspired artificial sensory system to provide the patient with active perception and a neurocontroller for the prosthesis by extracting motor commands from the peripheral nervous system (efferent system); NEUROBOTICS (2004) – the fusion of NEUROscience and robotics; SMART HAND (2006) – intelligent artificial hand that looks and feels like a real hand; ALLADIN (2004) – Natural Language Based Decision Support in Neuro-Rehabilitation; SAFEHAND (2006) – cybernetic prosthesis, which must mimic as much as possible the sensory-motor capabilities of the human hand; NEURO-BIKE (2007) – biomechatronic system for rehabilitation of lower limbs; EVRYON (2009) – wearable robots with structural intelligence where a symbiotic interaction between the robot and the human body is sought to achieve useful emerging dynamic behaviours.