Person:

Howard, Ayanna M.

Permanent Link

https://hdl.handle.net/1853/72195

Associated Organization(s)

Organizational Unit

School of Interactive Computing

Organizational Unit

School of Electrical and Computer Engineering

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Publication Search Results

Now showing 1 - 10 of 43

Validation of Accuracy of the Super Pop VR™ Kinematic Assessment Methodology Using Markerless Versus Marker-Based Motion Capture Systems

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2016) García-Vergara, Sergio ; Robinette, Paul ; Chen, Yu-Ping ; Howard, Ayanna M.

Therapists and clinicians have been combining virtual reality (VR) systems for rehabilitation purposes with motion capture systems to accurately keep track of the users' movements and better analyze their kinematic performance. The current state-of-the-art motion capture technology is limited to the clinical setting due to its cost, the necessity for a controlled environment, requirement of additional equipment, among others. Given the benefits of home-based rehabilitation protocols, more portable and cost-effective technology is being coupled with the VR systems. In this work, we focus on validating the accuracy of the Kinect™ camera from Microsoft. We compare its performance to a current state-of-the-art motion capture system. Namely, we 1) analyze the difference between the outcome metrics computed with data collected with the Kinect™ camera and the outcome metrics computed with data collected with the motion capture system, and 2) compare the spatial trajectories generated by both systems for the hand, elbow, and shoulder joints. Data were collected from ten able-bodied adults to quantify these comparisons. In general, results from both analyzes support the validity and feasibility of using the Kinect™ camera for home-based rehabilitation purposes.
Engaging children in math education using a socially interactive humanoid robot

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2013-10) Brown, LaVonda ; Howard, Ayanna M.

Studies have shown that teaching processes, which incorporate robotic-based engagement methods, can approach the effectiveness of human tutors. Not only have these socially engaging robots been used in education, but also as weightloss coaches, play partners, and companions. As such, in this paper we investigate the process of embedding social interaction within a humanoid-student learning scenario in order to reengage children during high-demand cognitive tasks.We discuss the overall system approach and the forms of multi-modal verbal and nonverbal (i.e. gestural) cues used by the robotic agent. Results derived from 20 children, age 13 through 18, engaging with the robot during a tablet-based algebra exam show that, while various forms of social interaction increase test performance, combinations of verbal cues result in a slightly better outcome with respect to test completion time.
Applying gaming principles to virtual environments for upper extremity therapy games

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2013-10) Nixon, Mason ; Howard, Ayanna M.

Home-based care modalities may yield many advantages in therapy and rehabilitation. Virtual systems for rehabilitation are an emerging technology that may be used to enhance the effectiveness of home-based care while simultaneously increasing the number of patients that physical therapists can provide care for. In this paper, we discuss a system that utilizes game design principles to develop a therapy game for upper extremity rehabilitation. We provide an overview of the system and show evidence based on assessments from adults and children using our virtual environment. Results indicate that the system we have developed can engage and encourage the target demographic by adhering to principles common in successful entertainment games.
The iceberg observation problem: using multiple agents to monitor and observe ablating target sources

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2013-10) Coogle, Richard A. ; Howard, Ayanna M.

Ships that operate in polar regions continue to face the threat of floating ice sheets and icebergs generated from an ice ablation process. Systems have been implemented to track these threats, with varying degrees of success. In this paper, a definition is proposed for this tracking problem that re-casts it within a class of robotic, multiagent target observation problems. The focus in this new definition is on minimizing the time an initial contact for newly generated targets is obtained, as opposed to obtaining a contact long after a target has been generated. Focusing on the initial contact time provides for the ability to enact early countermeasures. A model is provided for the target sources, as well as metrics for computing costs associated with the model for reallocating robotic agents during an observation task. The effectiveness of the solution compared with an existing observation technique is demonstrated using simulation.
Applying behavioral strategies for student engagement using a robotic educational agent

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2013-10) Brown, LaVonda ; Kerwin, Ryan ; Howard, Ayanna M.

Adaptive learning is an educational method that utilizes computers as an interactive teaching device. Intelligent tutoring systems, or educational agents, use adaptive learning techniques to adapt to each student’s needs and learning styles in order to individualize learning. Effective educational agents should accomplish two essential goals during the learning process – 1) monitor engagement of the student during the interaction and 2) apply behavioral strategies to maintain the student’s attention when engagement decreases. This paper focuses on the second objective of reengaging students using various behavioral strategies through the utilization of a robotic educational agent. Details are provided on the overall system approach and the forms of verbal and nonverbal cues used by the robotic agent. Results derived from 24 students engaging with the robot during a computer-based math test show that, while various forms of behavioral strategies increase test performance, combinations of verbal cues result in a slightly better outcome.
Non-contact versus contact-based sensing methodologies for in-home upper arm robotic rehabilitation

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2013-06) Howard, Ayanna M. ; Brooks, Douglas Antwonne ; Brown, Edward ; Gebregiorgis, Adey ; Chen, Yu-ping

In recent years, robot-assisted rehabilitation has gained momentum as a viable means for improving outcomes for therapeutic interventions. Such therapy experiences allow controlled and repeatable trials and quantitative evaluation of mobility metrics. Typically though these robotic devices have been focused on rehabilitation within a clinical setting. In these traditional robot-assisted rehabilitation studies, participants are required to perform goal-directed movements with the robot during a therapy session. This requires physical contact between the participant and the robot to enable precise control of the task, as well as a means to collect relevant performance data. On the other hand, non-contact means of robot interaction can provide a safe methodology for extracting the control data needed for in-home rehabilitation. As such, in this paper we discuss a contact and non-contact based method for upper-arm rehabilitation exercises that enables quantification of upper-arm movements. We evaluate our methodology on upper-arm abduction/adduction movements and discuss the advantages and limitations of each approach as applied to an in-home rehabilitation scenario.
Examining the learning effects of a low-cost haptic-based virtual reality simulator on laparoscopic cholecystectomy

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2013-06) Park, Chung Hyuk ; Wilson, Kenneth L. ; Howard, Ayanna M.

Virtual reality (VR) surgical training can be a potentially useful method for improving practicing surgical skills. However, the current literature on VR training has not discussed the efficacy of VR systems that are useful outside of the training facility. As such, the goal of this study is to evaluate the benefits of using a low-cost VR simulation system for providing a method to increase the learning of surgical skills. Our pilot case focuses on laparoscopic cholecystectomy, which is one of the most common surgeries currently performed in the United States and is often used as the training case for laparoscopy due to its high frequency and perceived low risk. The specific aim of this study is to examine the efficacy of a low-cost haptic-based VR surgical simulator on improving practicing surgical skills, measured by the change in the learning effect of students
Robots learn to play: robots emerging role in pediatric therapy

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2013-05) Howard, Ayanna M.

There is an estimated 150 million children worldwide living with a disability. For many of these children in the U.S., physical therapy is provided as an intervention mechanism to support the child’s academic, developmental, and functional goals from birth and beyond. Typically, for a physical therapy intervention to be adopted, there must be sufficient evidence-based practices showing the efficacy of the given method in use with the target demographic. With the recent advances in robotics, therapeutic intervention protocols using robots is ideally positioned to make an impact in this domain. Unfortunately, there has not yet been sufficient evidence-based research focused on the use of robots in child-based therapy to result in a full systematic review of this area. As such, in this paper we provide a review of the emerging role of robotics in pediatric therapy, with the goal of summarizing the research that could possibly transition into providing evidence on the efficacy of robotic therapeutic interventions for children.
Estimation-informed, Resource-aware Robot Navigation for Environmental Monitoring Applications

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2013-05) Parker, Lonnie T. ; Coogle, Richard A. ; Howard, Ayanna M.

Environmental monitoring of spatially-distributed geo-physical processes (e.g., temperature, pressure, or humidity) requires efficient sampling schemes, particularly, when employing an autonomous mobile agent to execute the sampling task. Many approaches have considered optimal sampling strategies which specialize in minimizing estimation error, while others emphasize reducing resource usage, yet rarely are both of these performance parameters used concurrently to influence the navigation. This work discusses how a spatial estimation process and resource awareness are integrated to generate an informed navigation policy for collecting useful measurement information. We also enable a direct comparison between this informed navigation method and more common approaches using two performance metrics. We show that our informed navigation outperforms these approaches based on performance evaluation as a function of estimation error and resource usage for a useful range of coverage within the sampling area.
Real-time Haptic Rendering and Haptic Telepresence of the Visually Impaired

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2013-04) Park, Chung Hyuk ; Howard, Ayanna M.

This paper presents a robotic system that provides telepresence to the visually impaired by combining real-time haptic rendering with multi-modal interaction. A virtual-proxy based haptic rendering process using a RGB-D sensor is developed and integrated into a unified framework for control and feedback for the telepresence robot. We discuss the challenging problem of presenting environmental perception to a user with visual impairments and our solution for multi-modal interaction. We also explain the experimental design and protocols, and results with human subjects with and without visual impairments. Discussion on the performance of our system and our future goals are presented toward the end.