*********************************
There is now a CONTENT FREEZE for Mercury while we switch to a new platform. It began on Friday, March 10 at 6pm and will end on Wednesday, March 15 at noon. No new content can be created during this time, but all material in the system as of the beginning of the freeze will be migrated to the new platform, including users and groups. Functionally the new site is identical to the old one. webteam@gatech.edu
*********************************
Atlanta, GA | Posted: November 4, 2010
Cody, a robot with compliant arms and a specialized "bath mitt" end effector developed by the Healthcare Robotics Laboratory (PI: Charlie Kemp) has demonstrated capabilities that could be used for automated bed baths. This could potentially be useful for individuals unable to perform functions of personal hygiene for themselves. A human operator can direct Cody to areas of skin that need to be cleaner. Cody uses a camera and a laser range finder to gather data, and then autonomously performs the cleaning function. The Robot has also been programmed for safety precautions, such as joints that are made with low stiffness to soften potential accidental impact, control methods that exert adequate pressure (well below the threshold to cause damage), and finally a "stop" button to shut off movement. This work was reported at the 2010 IEEE International Conference on Intelligent Robots (IROS) held in Taipei, Taiwan last month, and is a step forward in the use of robots in the healthcare arena.
Links to Media Coverage: http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/editors/25998/?ref=rss http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2010-11/robot-bathes-human-just... http://www.medgadget.com/archives/2010/11/a_robotic_car_wash_for_bedridd... http://www.gizmag.com/spong-bath-assistant-robot/16894/ http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20022305-1.html http://www.hizook.com/blog/2010/11/04/georgia-techs-cody-robot-performs-...