Tuesday, May 13, 2025
5/13/2025
Multifunctional Robotic Assistive Arm (mR2A) for Activities of Daily Living Assistance - The goal of this project is to assist elderly individuals and/or Individuals with Upper/Lower Extremities Dysfunctions (IwULEDs) to live independently and safely at home and provide activities of daily living (ADL) assistance, and mobility assistance. Therefore, the objectives of the proposed R&D project is to develop a minimum viable product prototype of a multifunctional robotic assistive arm (mR2A) that can be mounted on any mobile base, such as on a wheelchair or any fixed base, with a set of grippers to provide (a) ADL assistance such as feeding, opening a door, picking an object from out of reach; (b) mobility assistance; and (c) remote ADL/technical assistance and performance tracking of such IwULED. Anticipated outcomes of the proposed innovation include (i) provide independence, thus significantly improve the quality of life of the IwULEDs, (ii) reducing dependence on caregivers, and lowering cost burden accordingly, and (iii) improving the physical and mental status of both IwULED and their family caregivers. It is anticipated that the mR2A will lead to the advancement of multidisciplinary (assistive robotics, design, and control) engineering knowledge. The BioRobotics Lab at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee in partnership with Ubicomp Lab, Marquette University; Milwaukee VA Medical Centre; and the key stakeholders will, in this course of three-year project, will fill the gaps between the unmet needs (self-care, ADL/mobility assistance) of the IwULEDs and the approaches/technologies currently being used to satisfy their needs, and form a symbiotic relationship to overcome a critical barrier to advancing the field of assistive robotics. It is expected the project will produce at least ten peer-reviewed scientific articles.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).