Robotic nursing assistant

The research team presented the new robot to the public on the occasion of a visit to the Garmisch Research Centre by Judith Gerlach, Minister of State for Health, Care and Prevention.

On a stable, mobile base, the upper body of the new care-assist robot is attached to an extendable lifting column with arms located on the right and left-hand sides of the column. Above the arms is a head with alert eyes that blink from time to time. The new generation of Garmi has various sensors: cameras are mounted at eye level to detect movements in the environment; a lidar at leg height keeps objects in the immediate vicinity at a sufficient distance; and in future, 3D cameras will secure and coordinate the movements of the two arms. There is also a screen at chest height.

‘"he new Garmi understands language, develops a plan independently and brings a patient something to drink," says Alexander König, whose team developed and implemented the new platform. Based on the new design, the first forward-looking functionalities have now been developed. The MIRMI professor says: "A robot must be functional and operable, but must also have an appealing appearance. That's why we are collaborating with design experts."

Robotics engineer König sees his Garmi research team as an integrator that brings technology and design together. This includes, for example, precise grasping functionality (perception) and the ability to arrive at the exact location where a task is to be performed (navigation). The design should also support people in interacting and communicating with the robot while conveying trust and safety.

"While the original Garmi was designed as a versatile research platform, the new Garmi has been specifically developed for the care context," says Annette Diefenthaler, professor of design and transdisciplinarity and director of the Munich Design Institute (MDI), who worked with an external partner to develop the design of the new robot.

The robot is more like a mobile platform than a humanoid. "But it was clear to us from the outset that it should come across as friendly and approachable – with subtle human-like features," says Diefenthaler.

The new platform does not look like a human being: ‘It’s a friendly creature that controls technology. This allows the machine to fade into the background while the robot creates an emotional connection.’

The new Garmi can pick up objects from the floor, but also retrieve them from up high. Unlike the first-generation Garmi, the face and screen are separate. In future, when a doctor is connected for a remote examination, their head will appear on the screen, just like in a video call. The next step is to make the new Garmi safe for use in both care facilities and the home environment of senior citizens. Bringing a drink to a thirsty person is only the first step. ‘Helping people get up, enabling communication and participation in social life, reminding them to take their medication – the possible applications are wide-ranging,’ says Prof. König.

www.tum.de/en/