A feasibility study of a robot manipulator for the disabled.

A robotic manipulator system appears to offer much potential for a severely handicapped person who has little or no hand function. Existing environmental control systems fulfil an important role, but are limited to preselected tasks. The robotic system described here aims to overcome such limitations by providing a user-controlled manipulative device, which is not restricted to preselected tasks. The paper describes the development of a system based on a relatively cheap desk-top mounted robotic device controlled by a microcomputer, in order to investigate the feasibility of such a system. The problems which have been encountered are the provision of user input commands from a person with limited control function, and also the progression from general control of the robot to the performing of useful domestic tasks. The paper also describes and discusses the results of a user survey and user trials.