Enhancing Disabilities Engineering Research and Education Through Robotics Capstone Projects

主要研究者：Padir提案编号：1264588动机本提案的总体目标是调查，设计，实施和验证新的机器人技术，通过本科顶点设计项目，帮助一般和年龄相关的残疾人。此外，还将培养一批对残疾人的需求有深刻认识和敏感度的、具备多学科设计和分析技能的新型工程师，以推动机器人技术领域的发展，并为机器人与人类直接合作的快速部署做出贡献。智力成果在许多方面都具有重要意义和新颖性。利用自主机器人的最新研究进展以及使能技术的快速发展，我们建议设计，开发和验证模块化和硬件软件可重构的辅助机器人，为残疾人服务。特别是，拟议的工作将（i）为下一代个人辅助机器人开发以用户为中心的设计，（ii）为机器人导航和操作开发（半）自主软件模块，（iii）设计和实施依赖于机器人，人类和交互模型的直观控制技术，（iv）有助于机器人研究中可复制实验的设计，以测试和验证系统，（v）通过让K-12和本科生参与项目的各个方面，培养下一代机器人工程师和创新者。鉴于这些目标，拟议的工作将大大推进辅助机器人技术和系统的设计，这些技术和系统将在具有一般和年龄相关残疾的个人附近运行。在拟议的顶点设计项目范围内开发的系统将可能导致新的科学研究方向，以了解人类-机器人团队的团队动态，从而推动辅助机器人领域的发展。此外，拟议的工作将建立和加强伍斯特理工学院和马萨诸塞大学医学院共同位于伍斯特，马萨诸塞州之间的研究和教育合作。更广泛的影响该项目将培养新一代的工程专业的学生，可以广泛地应对我们的社会挑战，通过直接涉及本科生在明确的，但前沿的项目为基础的实施任务。研究和教育经验的高度多学科性质将影响本科工程和非工程学生，以及K-12学生。此外，工程专业本科生将接受残疾工程方面的多学科培训。 与WPI的暑期项目办公室合作举办暑期机器人项目，我们为初中和高中学生提供研究和学习参与，并通过参与影响课程开发。由于机器人为导向的活动的力量，打破传统的文化障碍，阻止学生实现他们的潜力，作为工程师和/或作为商业领袖，由于性别和种族偏见的教养，我们希望我们的工作，以积极影响干学科的多样性。我们还将继续发展我们的教育合作与各种伍斯特初中和高中，伍斯特公共图书馆以及在EcoTarium，伍斯特的科学和自然博物馆，提供有关机器人使用的科学和工程的学习机会。通过介绍这些围绕机器人的教育活动，该项目旨在提高人们对STEM大学和职业选择的认识，沿着《超越风暴》报告和《改变对话：提高公众对工程学理解的信息》（国家科学院出版社）中所倡导的路线。

PI: PadirProposal Number: 1264588Motivation The overarching goal of this proposal is to investigate, design, implement and validate novel robotic technologies for assisting persons with general and age-related disabilities through undergraduate capstone design projects. The proposed work is also aimed at educating a new cadre of engineers who are knowledgeable about and sensitive to the needs of individuals with disabilities and who are equipped with multidisciplinary design and analysis skills to significantly advance the field of robotics and contribute to the fast deployment of robots in direct collaboration with humans.Intellectual Merit The proposed work is significant and novel in many aspects. Utilizing recent research advances in autonomous robots as well as the rapid development in enabling technologies, we propose to design, develop and validate modular and hardware-software reconfigurable assistive robots in service of persons with disabilities. In particular, the proposed work will (i) develop user-centered designs for the next generation of personal assistive robots, (ii) develop (semi-)autonomy software modules for robot navigation and manipulation, (iii) design and implement intuitive control techniques that will rely upon the robot, human and interaction models, (iv) contribute to the design of replicable experiments in robotics research to test and validate systems, (v) train the next generation of robotics engineers and innovators by involving K-12 and undergraduate students in all aspects of the project. In view of these objectives, the proposed work will significantly advance the design of assistive robot technologies and systems that operate in close vicinity of individuals with general and age-related disabilities. The systems developed within the scope of the proposed capstone design projects will potentially lead to new scientific research directions in understanding the team dynamics in human-robot teams to advance the field of assistive robotics. Moreover, the proposed work will establish and enhance research and education collaborations between the Worcester Polytechnic Institute and UMass Medical School co-located in Worcester, Massachusetts.Broader ImpactsThe project will train a new generation of engineering students that can broadly address challenges of our society through directly involving undergraduate students in well-defined yet cutting-edge project-based implementation tasks. The highly multidisciplinary nature of the research and educational experience will impact undergraduate engineering and non-engineering students, as well as K-12 students. Moreover, undergraduate engineering students will receive multidisciplinary training on disabilities engineering. Hosting summer robotics programs in collaboration with WPI's Summer Programs Office, we offer research and learning engagement for middle and high-school students and impact curriculum development through participation. Because of the power of robotics-oriented activities to break down traditional cultural barriers that prevent students from realizing their potentials as engineers and/or as business leaders due to gender and racial bias in upbringing, we expect our work to positively impact the diversity of STEM disciplines. We will also continue to develop our educational collaborations with various Worcester middle and high-schools, Worcester Public Library as well as in the EcoTarium, Worcester's museum of science and nature to offer learning opportunities about the science and engineering of robots using. By introducing these educational activities revolving around robots, this project is aimed at increasing the awareness of STEM college and career choices along the lines advocated in the Rising Above the Gathering Storm report, and Changing the Conversation: Messages for Improving Public Understanding of Engineering (The National Academies Press).