A research team led by Dr. Amir Khajepour, professor of mechanical and mechatronics engineering, has developed a new technology that uses cloud-based autonomous robots for routine tasks, such as moving equipment and supplies in hospitals and long-term care facilities.
The system allows health-care workers to focus on strategic medical responsibilities rather than manual labour and logistical tasks, helping busy health-care workers improve efficiency, reduce workplace injuries, and ease the pressures of worldwide nursing shortages.
The system has ceiling-mounted sensor modes that include LIDAR (light detection and ranging), an onboard processor, and a Wi-Fi interface for cloud connectivity.
The sensor nodes communicate with the cloud, and the robots receive control actions to safely navigate busy health-care settings while avoiding people and obstacles. To test this, the group has created lab infrastructure that mimics a hospital bed, allowing it to autonomously move itself and its supplies to designated locations.
Learn more in the Waterloo News article: University of Waterloo team develops system to automate routine hospital tasks.