Independent mobility features allow healthcare workers to fully conduct examinations remotely.
A group of university researchers is developing a new fleet of mobile telehealth robots for improved remote testing by healthcare workers and minimized interaction between persons under quarantine. The team has given the project the title ‘Robot-facilitated Health Equity in Post-Pandemic California and Beyond’ and will include features such as advanced tactile sensing, manipulation, and haptic technologies for easy information transfer via touch. California-based universities UC San Diego, UCLA, UC Irvine, and San Diego State University have received a $1.2 million grant from UC Multicampus Research Programs and Initiatives (MRPI) to work on these robotic technologies.
Besides conducting tests, the robots are expected to be able to perform tasks such as opening doors and grasping objects for complete independent mobility. Existing telehealth technologies currently lack this versatility, including the capacity to use and recognize touch, which the team identifies as a necessary feature for effectively mitigating the risk of COVID-19 infection among frontliners.
Healthcare workers have mostly been using technologies such as Zoom for telemedicine. While it has managed to allow communication between healthcare professionals and patients, it still has limitations with regards to examination and monitoring. According to the researchers, the inclusion of haptic tools will allow healthcare workers to easily assimilate with patients even when interacting remotely while producing more robust information.
The team is already planning on collaborating with UC system healthcare professionals to determine the best deployment measures for these mobile telehealth robots. Part of their objectives is to include the UC Iris research system in critical care environments for optimized performance and response.
The team is currently focusing on socially marginalized communities with high COVID-19 fatality rates and limited access to telemedicine technologies.
“We are specifically focused on Latino communities, as they are the most tragically affected by COVID-19 in California, representing 71% of fatalities among those 18 to 64,” says Laurel Riek, a UC San Diego Computer Science and Engineering professor who is currently leading the project. “We will explore ways the robots can help them engage and feel included in their communities without risking in-person gatherings.”
Besides telehealth, the team also expects the technology to provide a new mode of interaction for those in quarantine isolation, particularly for those who are at risk of suffering from depression and dementia. These specially-designed robotic systems will offer quarantined individuals the opportunity to safely “leave” home and interact with their community.
“For healthcare workers, these robots will enable new ways to safely treat patients. For people who are isolated, they will provide new opportunities to engage with their loved ones and their communities,” shares Riek.
Read more about the project here.
