Towards a New Generation of Smart Devices for Mobility Assistance: CloudWalker, a Cloud-Enabled Cyber-Pbysical System

Abstract

The increased computational complexity demanded by recent algorithms and techniques applied to healthcare and social robotics, often limited by the robot's embedded hardware, coupled with advancements on networking and cloud computing enabled the so-called cloud robotics paradigm. This work explores cloud robotics concepts pointing at opportunities on the design and development of robotic platforms used for patient mobility assistance. Moreover, we present CloudWalker, a cloud-enabled cyber-physical system to assist mobility impaired individuals. The conception of such system envisions the integration of smart walkers and remote cloud computing platforms, aiming at expanding the range of features these devices can offer to users, patients, healthcare professionals, and family members. Results from validation experiments point to the emergence of a new generation of smart walkers and assistive devices in general, designed to leverage cloud computing concepts to provide an extended range of services to users, relatives, and healthcare professionals.