Architectural design of ARTeMIS: A multi-tasking robot for people with disabilities

Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) is a research field dedicated to understanding, designing, evaluating and improving the communication between a human and a robot. Technological progress in fields, such as artificial intelligence, computer science, speech simulation, image processing, and remote controls, has led to advances in robotic technology [1]. Interaction between human and robot can be separated into two general categories: remote, where the human and the robot are separated in space or time, and proximate, where the human and the robot may be found in the same location [2]. These two general categories can be further distinguished between applications that require mobility, physical manipulation, or social interaction. Social interactions with robots are more proximate rather than remote. The purpose of this paper is to design the architecture of a robotic system and understand how it might assist people with disabilities and help them stay independent longer. Future work includes verification and validation of the architecture and robotic construction. An experimentation plan will take place in order to evaluate the behavior and performance of the robotic system. The results will be used for the robotic construction.