RFID-Equipped Robot Guide Dogs

Posted 29 Jan 2005 at 23:28 UTC by steve

Roland Piquepaille writes, "A professor in computer science at Utah State University (USU) is building robots to help people with disabilities, according to a Utah Statesman article. The story, which is more focused on the professor than robotics, carries several anecdotes, such as an embarrassing voice recognition system. After a blind man cleared his throat, the robot misinterpreted the sound as a sign that the man wanted to go to the bathroom. Later, every time a man cleared his throat before speaking, the robot changed directions and guided him to the restroom. The project at USU is far more ambitious. They want to design RFID-enabled robots mounted on mobile carts which will welcome blind persons at the entrance of supermarkets and guide them through the store. I bet you'll never find those carts at a Wal-Mart." For more on about these RFID-equipped robots, check out Roland's latest blog entry on the subject.