Human-Robot Interaction Robotic Arm with Advanced Sensing Techniques

The Salisbury Robotics Lab at Stanford is developing an innovative robotic Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) designed to assist in emergency medical situations. This advanced robot will perform initial assessments of patients by measuring vital signs like pulse, blood pressure, respiration, and temperature, as well as conducting ultrasonic and electrocardiogram exams. For these tasks, the robot needs to safely and skillfully touch patients. Current robots, however, can be too rigid, posing risks during accidental contact. To address this, the lab is creating new actuators with variable stiffness, making the robot safer for human interaction. These actuators can change how firm or flexible they are, which helps the robot respond more gently during unexpected contact. The goal is to build a 6-axis robotic arm using these advanced actuators. This arm will serve as a versatile platform equipped with numerous sensors, allowing developers to test different sensing and machine learning techniques. This project aims to enhance the safety and effectiveness of robots in emergency medical care, potentially revolutionizing how we respond to medical emergencies.