Matching Input and Output Devices and Physical Disabilities for Human-Robot Workstations

Abstract

As labor shortage is rising at an alarming rate, it is imperative to enable all people to work, particularly people with disabilities and elderly people. Robots are often used as universal tool to assist people with disabilities. However, for such human-robot workstations universal design fails. We mitigate the challenges of selecting an individualized set of input and output devices by matching devices required by the work process and individual disabilities adhering to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities passed by the United Nations. The objective is to facilitate economically viable work-stations with just the required devices, hence, lowering overall cost of corporate inclusion and during redesign of workplaces. Our work focuses on developing an efficient approach to filter input and output devices based on a person's disabilities, resulting in a tailored list of usable devices. The methodology enables an automated assessment of devices compatible with specific disabilities defined in International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. In a mock-up, we showcase the synthesis of input and output devices from disabilities, thereby providing a practical tool for selecting devices for individuals with disabilities.

Authors 3

1. Carlo Weidemann Aachen Institute of Mechanism Theory

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Mechanism Theory, Machine Dynamics and Robotics, RWTH Aachen University,Aachen,Germany,52062

2. Nils Mandischer

   University of Augsburg

   Affiliation as printed

   University of Augsburg,Chair of Mechatronics,Augsburg,Germany,86159

3. Burkhard J. Corves Aachen Institute of Mechanism Theory

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Mechanism Theory, Machine Dynamics and Robotics, RWTH Aachen University,Aachen,Germany,52062