Robot Obeys Laser Pointer Commands
From: NASA Tech Briefs Insider - Motion Control Technology Newsletter
      - 03/26/2008

Scientists at the Center for Healthcare Robotics in the Health Systems
Institute at the Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University have
developed a robot that obeys commands from a laser pointer, to help
mobility-challenged users perform everyday tasks.  

The robot is called El-E, for the ability to elevate its arm and for the
arm's resemblance to an elephant's trunk. The robot autonomously moves to an
item selected with a green laser pointer, picks up the item, and then
delivers it to the user, another person, or a selected location such as a
table. An omni-directional camera guides the robot to look at the laser spot,
and triangulates the robot's position in three-dimensional space. 

The robot is called El-E, for the ability to elevate its arm and for the
arm's resemblance to an elephant's trunk. The robot autonomously moves to an
item selected with a green laser pointer, picks up the item, and then
delivers it to the user, another person, or a selected location such as a
table. An omni-directional camera guides the robot to look at the laser spot,
and triangulates the robot's position in three-dimensional space.  

El-E's creators are gathering input from ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig's
disease) patients and doctors to prepare the robot to assist patients with
severe mobility challenges. While the robot can currently be taught to grasp
and deliver common household items including towels, pill bottles, and
telephones from floors or tables, researchers hope to teach the robot to
switch lights on and off and open and close doors. 

Links:
Robot fetches objects with just a point and a click
http://www.gatech.edu/newsroom/release.html?id=1768

Healthcare Robotics lab
http://www.hsi.gatech.edu/hrl/

Department of Biomedical Engineering at GA Tech and Emory UIniversity
http://bme.gatech.edu/

Emory ALS Center
http://www.neurology.emory.edu/ALS/

Charlie Kemp
http://www.hsi.gatech.edu/cckemp/

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Robots Help Patients Who Need Assistance
From: Physical Therapy Products - 04/02/2008

While scientists are making slow, incremental progress in their quest to
create a robot that responds to speech, gestures and body language, a more
straightforward method of communication may help robots find their way into
homes sooner to help patients who need assistance. 

Read the entire article at:
http://www.ptproductsonline.com/SOAPNotes/2008-04-02_03.asp