Engineering/Scientific areas within Robotics Engineering And Computing for Healthcare (REACH)

Accessible human-robot interaction and interfaces

The way in which human and robots interact is key to the successful deployment and acceptance of these technologies. We work towards the development of natural communication strategies through the use of vision, touch, and auditory cues. Apart from the communication aspect itself, we also pay attention to the means of communication, that is, to the interfaces that facilitate the inputs/outputs between the technology and the users.

Publications

Robo-ethics

We should consider the ethical case when we introduce AI and Robotics into any domain, and this is particularly true in healthcare settings, where users may be vulnerable and where our expectations of care are clearly based on our experience of human interactions. Our objective is simple; to enable stakeholders to express and attain their desires for a sustainable future for the benefit of the many.

Projects

  • SciRoc: Smart Cities Robot Competitions

Publications

People

Bio-inspired mechatronics

Our objectives are to develop smart bio-inspired rehabilitation devices and systems and their testing facilities, to work with smart material and advances in manufacturing to optimise innovative engineering techniques, to develop assistive solutions for end-users and work with rehabilitation centre to validate their usage.

Projects

  • Development of a Bio-Inspired Exoskeleton for lower limbs
  • An Inclusive Digital Design approach in biomechanical assistive devices

Publications

Bio-smart controllers

Our aim is to develop innovative high-level control approaches to the bring out the best of assistive robots. This includes two different approaches:

  1. collaborative design and creation of new platforms, in which mechanical designers and control engineers iteratively come-up with optimized solutions, and
  2. using advanced controllers to render limited functional hardware into intelligent compliant platforms.

To attain these objectives, we focus on the following primary areas of research:

  • bio-inspired controllers: take inspiration from nature to create more natural and intuitive controllers for robotic hands, lower limb exoskeletons, etc
  • intuitive multi-robot control: investigate new paradigms that will allow the cooperation and collaboration of multiple robots in a seamless way
  • shared-authority: research on different levels of control in HRI
  • adaptive control: create user-centric controllers for physically assistive robots that adapt to each person’s requirements and level of assistance needed
  • impedance control: render rigid robots into compliant mechanisms by means of smart controllers to make them safer during HRI.

Smart sensing and electronics

Our objective is to support improved treatment and quality of life through novel AI, data analytics, and sensing paradigms.

Projects

  • CHARMED-MS - Objective Characterisation of Movement Disorders to Identify People with MS Likely to Benefit from Deep Brain Stimulation  
  • FitBees– Facilitating physical activity and exercises in people aged over 55 years 
  • MoDA-VR – Movement Disorders Assessment in Virtual Reality 
  • POEM – Pulse Oximetry from the Eardrum
  • PoseCalib: Automated extrinsic calibration of a markerless 3D human motion capture system
  • Supportive Surveillance? Co-design of automated timely interventions to enhance.  treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
  • TEETACSI -Tracking Expert Eyes to Train AI for Clinical Signal Interpretation

Publications

People

Safety engineering and design assurance of robotics and autonomous systems

Healthcare assistive robotics are safety critical applications, and as such it is necessary to provide assurance that their operation will be acceptably safe during operational service. Safety assurance of autonomous systems is a challenging exercise, and our objective is to research methods, tools and system technology that facilitate our ability to provide safety assurance with confidence. This includes research in the following fields:

  • risk assessment, safety analysis, and safety requirements specification
  • safety-directed design, and safety technology
  • verification and validation of safety (including simulation-based testing)
  • safety cases and argumentation for robotics and autonomous systems
  • safety standards, regulation, and certification processes
  • safety auditing of robotic and autonomous systems

Projects

  • Project proposals currently in development:
    • (As Co-Investigator) Assistive robotics in dentistry (Principal Investigator – Dr Sana Alghareibeh)
    • Strawman standard for robots in social care
    • ESHA Methodology for Autonomous Systems in Healthcare
  • AAIP: Assistive Robotics in Healthcare Demonstrator project within the Assuring Autonomy International Programme 
  • Support for SOCRATES Marie Curie PhD student training programme (2019)
  • INTRO Marie Curie doctoral student training programme (2011-2012)
 

Publications

People

Rehabilitation and user experience

Any item, piece of equipment, or system, whether acquired commercially, modified or customized, that is commonly used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.” (The Assistive Technology Act of 2004).

Assistive devices are playing a major role in field of rehabilitation and the field is ever so evolving. To understand their uses, it is critical to explore user awareness and experience. The objectives are to:

  • explore the opportunities of assistive devices in the field of rehabilitation
  • engage in inter-disciplinary research
  • understand the users and health care professionals training needs

Projects

  • Future Care Workforces: Scoping capabilities to leverage assistive robotics through co-design
  • FitBees – Facilitating physical activity and exercises in people aged over 55 years 
 

Publications

Robotics Engineering And Computing for Healthcare

We research robotics technologies, intelligent sensors and machine learning to realise person-focused innovative healthcare solutions.

Research centres and groups

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