Research

Barking up the right tree

Robot dogs and smart technology among the care options showcased by Technology for Assisted Living lab.

Brooke Peterson poses with a robot dog.
Estimated Read Time:
3 minutes
Occupational therapy student Brooke Peterson with a robot dog at the TAL lab.
Occupational therapy student Brooke Peterson with a robot dog at the TAL lab.
Estimated Read Time:
3 minutes
By

Alan MacKenzie

A College of Rehabilitation Sciences’ lab at Health Sciences Centre gave two students a futuristic perspective of what in-home care will look like in the coming years through working on projects that utilize smart home technology, emerging mobility devices and robot dogs.

The college’s Technology for Assisted Living (TAL) lab was founded in 2022 and includes, as part of its facilities, the smart suite – a model apartment equipped with user-friendly assistive technology and flexible equipment. It is designed as a training area to enhance autonomy and well-being for older adults and individuals with disabilities.

Seth Broder, 20, a third-year Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management interested in biomedical engineering, was on a 15-week term with the lab and will continue on a part-time/casual basis.

So far, his work included updating the lab’s social media accounts and conducting background research on robotics and assistive devices.

One of the devices, called a “frame runner,” is a three-wheeled mobility tool with a bicycle seat that a user propels with their legs. Frame runners originated in Europe for sport but have since become used by people with cerebral palsy and other mobility limitations.  

“A large chunk of my first couple months at the lab was spent researching what we know and don’t know about these frame runners,” he said. 

Seth Broder at the TAL lab.
Seth Broder at the TAL lab.

One experience he didn’t expect was learning how to design 3D-printed assistive devices like bottle openers, grocery bag holders and adaptive gaming controls that help people with limited fine motor control to play video games. 

“If I wanted to take a course on 3D printing, that would be an engineering course. I never would have thought it would be something that I would learn while I’m in kinesiology,” he said.

Brooke Peterson, 26, is entering her second year of occupational therapy at the College of Rehabilitation Sciences. She worked at the lab in July and August and will also continue there for up to 10 hours a week throughout the school year.  

Peterson is working on several projects, including one in partnership with St. Amant in Winnipeg.  

“There are three adults living in the home who have intellectual or developmental disabilities. We will be working with them to identify what kind of challenges they’re having with the activities in their everyday lives, and looking to see what kind of technology might be able to help enhance their participation in those activities,” she said.

That technology could include smart speakers that can sync with digital calendars for daily reminders. Another option is using telepresence robots that can assist with daily tasks.  

“A caregiver could use it to be on the screen, follow you around the house and watch you throughout the day to make sure that you’re safe,” Peterson said. 

Student researchers Brooke Peerson and Seth Broder work with robots at a table in the TAL smart suite.
Brooke Peterson and Seth Broder work with robotics at the TAL lab’s smart suite.

Exploring robotic dog possibilities

A highlight of the students’ experience was organizing an event on Aug. 25 called Dog Days of Summer, where clinicians and students were given a demonstration of two robot dogs that are in development between the TAL lab, Dr. Jay Wang, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at the Price Faculty of Engineering, the University of British Columbia and the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT). 

Currently, the cost of robot dogs can vary, but research models can cost around $20,000.

Dr. Jacquie Ripat, dean of the College of Rehabilitation Sciences, who leads the lab, said the lab recently purchased one through funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), in collaboration with BCIT.

Ripat said the Price Faculty of Engineering is supplying the person power related to the AI enabled development aspect for the robot dog, named BARK-1.

“(The name) stands for ‘Boosting Autonomy with Robotic K9s,’ and ‘1’ refers to our first dog,” Ripat said. 

Dr. Jay Wang and Dr. Jacquie Ripat give a demonstration of the robot dogs.
Dr. Jay Wang and Dr. Jacquie Ripat give a presentation on robot dogs at the TAL lab.

She said the team is in the early stages and asking people to imagine what the robot dogs could do. Suggestions from attendees included help with opening doors, pushing manual wheelchairs and carrying groceries.

Ripat said the team is not only studying the functionality of the robots, but the safety, ethics and social aspects.

The students felt it was an exciting opportunity to gather ideas about what people need and want in their daily lives.

“As an occupational therapy student, I am always thinking about the functional impact —how assistive technology can improve a person’s independence and engagement in their everyday activities — and the robotic dog has immense potential in that regard,” Peterson said.

Broder said the greatest strength of the robot dogs is their ability to foster independence.  

“No one is denying the fact that robots cannot replace human caregivers. What they may be helpful for though is assisting in tasks that those in wheelchairs may not want to rely on others for,” he said.

Watch an Instagram reel about the robot dog demo:

instagram.com/um_radyfhs/

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