Conclusion of Teleskoop Research Project
Robotics for future care
Research Focus: Applied Artificial Intelligence
Solving the shortage of nursing staff: The Teleskoop research project enables nursing staff, for the first time, to remotely control humanoid telerobots in an efficient, human-centered, and innovative way.
Given the growing number of care-dependent individuals and the shortage of nursing staff, our society is facing significant challenges. How can we ensure appropriate and humane care? As part of the Teleskoop research project, a humanoid telerobot was, for the first time, successfully integrated into the daily lives of private households. The aim was to investigate the potential for support in ambulant care. In particular, the studies identified the importance of the robot’s human operator as a key aspect of encouraging the acceptance of people in need of care. In addition, the teleoperation approach revealed opportunities for greater flexibility and adaptation of the support services to the abilities and daily routines of the target group. The project results were obtained through the cooperation of the FZI Research Center for Information Technology, Devanthro GmbH, and the Geriatrics research group of Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, and offer concrete solutions for the challenges of everyday care. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) funded the project with 690,000 euros.
Pioneering care with humanoid robots
As a first-timer, the Teleskoop project successfully integrated a humanoid telerobot into households to assist with care. Over the three-year duration of the project, technologies and methods were developed that enable precise, needs-based care support while maintaining personal interaction. Over 23 days, people in need of care were accompanied and supported by the teleoperated robotic system Robody in various everyday situations. The pilot studies were conducted for the first time worldwide together with ambulatory care services such as the Diakoniezentrum Pirmasens, Aiutanda GmbH, and Augustinum gGmbH.
Intuitive assistance robotics in daily care
The Teleskoop project partners developed the first cooperative telepresence system for ambulant care. The results offer an innovative approach to the growing need for care. Care staff can control Robody remotely and use immersive virtual reality technology to integrate themselves into the situation on-site. This allows physical tasks and everyday assistance to be carried out precisely without neglecting the personal and trusting relationship between care staff and the care-dependent person.
“With this telecare approach, we combine the strengths of man and machine while maintaining the personal exchange between care staff and the person requiring assistance,” explains Rafael Hostettler, Co-Founder and CEO of the consortium leader Devanthro GmbH.
Assignments of the project partners
Devanthro was responsible for the technical development of the humanoid robot system as well as for the operational organization and implementation of the pilot studies. The company developed the Robody prototype, which remained permanently in the households and was controlled by a virtual reality interface and haptic controllers.
The FZI Research Center for Information Technology developed cooperative controllers with fast response, enabling the fulfillment of complex tasks such as the transport of open liquids, for example, a filled water glass.
Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin was responsible for the scientific support of the project, in particular the design, implementation, and evaluation of the various user-centered studies throughout the project. The findings were directly integrated into the further technical development of the Robody system and the content of the application scenarios.
About the FZI
The FZI Research Center for Information Technology, with headquarters in Karlsruhe and a branch office in Berlin, is a non-profit institution for information technology application research and technology transfer. It delivers the latest scientific findings in information technology to companies and public institutions and qualifies individuals for academic and business careers or the leap into self-employment. Supervised by professors from various faculties, the research groups at the FZI develop interdisciplinary concepts, software, hardware and system solutions for their clients and implement the solutions found as prototypes. The FZI House of Living Labs provides a unique research environment for application research. The FZI is an innovation partner of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and strategic partner of the German Informatics Society (GI).
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