An overview of our work in Smart Homes.

1. The University of Texas at Arlington Research Institute
Foundation Meeting
What Are We Trying To Accomplish?
• Meet the needs of our wounded service
members and their families
• Improve cooperation / collaboration between
Foundations
• Ensure we are not missing anyone

2. The University of Texas at Arlington Research Institute
Agenda
• 10:00 – 10:15: Welcome/Introductions
• 10:15 – 10:45: UTARI Overview
• 10:45 – 11:15: Foundation #1
• 11:15 – 11:45: Foundation #2
• 11:45 – 1:00: Lunch/Tour
• 1:00 – 1:30: Foundation #3
• 1:30 – 2:00: Foundation #4
• 2:30 – 3:00: Plan way Ahead

3. The University of Texas at Arlington Research Institute
Assistive Robotics
Rick Lynch
Lieutenant General, US Army (Retired)
Executive Director, UTARI

4. The University of Texas at Arlington Research Institute
Vision
By 2017, UTARI becomes a global leader in the research and
development of advanced technology specifically in the areas of
Advanced Manufacturing, Biomedical Technologies and Robotics.
Our focus remains enabling product development to help humanity,
providing unique, affordable solutions to complex problems.

5. The University of Texas at Arlington Research Institute
Assistive Robotics
Using robotic technology to:
1) Assist human beings in the performance of dirty,
dull, and dangerous tasks.
 Military Operations
 Manufacturing
 Agriculture
 Homeland Security
2) Assist people with disabilities (to include our
Wounded Warriors)

6. The University of Texas at Arlington Research Institute
US Wounded Warriors
(Global War on Terrorism)
• Current casualty figures
–Operation Enduring Freedom: 18,000+ (and
growing)
–Operation Iraqi Freedom: 32,000+
• 95% survival rate regardless of injury
type
• Sustained very severe injuries

7. The University of Texas at Arlington Research Institute
Profile of Older Americans
• 65+ population
– 40.4 million: 2010
– Increase of 5.4 million (15.3%) since 2000
– 1 in every 8 Americans
• Average life expectancy for those over 65
– 17.3 years: male
– 20 years: female
• 85+ population
– 5.5 million: 2010
– 6.6 million: 2020
• 20% of Americans have disabilities

8. The University of Texas at Arlington Research Institute
Smart Home Initiative
Home Automation
Simple Telepresence
Improved Interfaces &
Integration
Next Generation Single
Purpose Robots
Intelligent Mobile
Manipulators
Immersive Telepresence
Capable General Purpose
Robots
Image Credit: Home Automation Montreal

9. The University of Texas at Arlington Research Institute
State of the Art Assistive
Technologies
Home automation systems
with interfaces for disabled people
Single purpose robots that
perform domestic tasks such as
cleaning and mowing
Telepresence robotsSelf-lowering
cabinetry
Household fixtures that require
less dexterity

10. The University of Texas at Arlington Research Institute
Value Added Technology
Integration
Embedding sensors to allow
enhanced robot navigation in
the home
Installing RFID tags to enhance
the operation of morphable
prosthetics
Integrating manipulators
onto telepresence robots
to allow remote assistance or
Increased dexterity to user
Installing context-aware
computers requiring
less user interaction
Enhancing telepresence
robots to support remote
medical checkups

11. The University of Texas at Arlington Research Institute
Custom Solutions from UTARI
Next generation robots including trash cans
that can take themselves to and from the
curb and hampers that can transport
laundry to the washing machine
Wheel chairs that use eye gaze
detection to navigation between
rooms and manipulate objects
Creation of ‘mission control’
infrastructure to allow call centers
to provide remote assistance and
control of assistive robots

12. The University of Texas at Arlington Research Institute
UTARI Carrybot
• Create a next-generation domestic robot that can navigate inside a typical
home, is capable of locating and consolidating trash from small indoor
bins, and taking that trash to and depositing it in a central indoor trash
location.
• Project aims to design a trashbot manipulator attachable to the carrybot
as a modular extension
• Estimated budget (without overhead): $500,000
• Estimated timeline: 2 years

13. The University of Texas at Arlington Research Institute
Custom Assistive Devices
• Travis Mills
– Putting on legs
– Showering
– Food preparation
• Jason Ross
– Pressure relief while
sitting / laying
– Assistance with lifting
– Assistance with general
household tasks

14. The University of Texas at Arlington Research Institute
Project Details
Travis Mills Near-Term For Development Budget Estimate
Putting on Legs Home visit to
observe actual
technique being
used
Develop device TBD
Showering Present Travis
with COTS
options
Cost of COTS
Food Preparation Develop
sandwich maker
Modify Coffee
maker to water
line
$85,000 (without
overhead)
9 months

15. The University of Texas at Arlington Research Institute
Project Details
Jason Ross Near-Term For Development Budget Estimate
Pressure Relief Extend bubble actuator
to include feedback for
pressure distribution and
high pressure areas
$100,000
(without
overhead)
1 year
Assistance with lifting Clarify specific
preferences with
Jason on approach
Develop machine to lift
Jason
TBD
Cooking – Oven Door
Washing Clothes
Vacuum Cleaner
Fishing
Mowing
Window Cleaning
Present Jason with
COTS options
Cost of COTS

16. The University of Texas at Arlington Research Institute
General Purpose Robots in Homes