Researchers at Waterloo Engineering have created technology to safely control and coordinate autonomous robots to perform routine tasks in hospitals and long-term care facilities.
The system, developed to help address a projected global nursing shortage, features ceiling-mounted sensor nodes equipped with cameras, LiDAR (light detection and ranging), an onboard processor and a 5G WiFi communication interface to connect to the cloud.
Sophisticated algorithms at both ends enable the sensor nodes to communicate with the cloud, while robots receive control actions from the cloud to navigate busy health-care settings, avoiding people and obstacles.
“There is a need for creative solutions for transportation systems in the health-care industry that are cost-effective, on the one hand, and can perform basic logistical duties to ease the burden on nurses and staff,” said Dr. Amir Khajepour, a professor of mechanical and mechatronics engineering.
“Our system would allow health-care workers to focus more on medical responsibilities rather than manual labour tasks, reducing the risk of workplace injuries while also improving the overall efficiency of medical care.”
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