A team from the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) has created a dog-shaped robot equipped with artificial intelligence that can serve as a guide for dependent or disabled people. Among its many features, its ability to unequivocally distinguish between an object and a person stands out, thanks to its automatic learning system and the camera that it has built into its head. By being connected to Google, it can know information in real time, such as the traffic situation, and it is able to communicate it to its owner or to other people by voice.
Although its metallic appearance and its sudden and millimeter movements keep it from looking like an animal, its creators had guide dogs in mind when they began to think about the possibilities of Tefi, which is how this robot has been baptized in honor of the initials of the institute. from the CSIC where he was born: the Institute of Physical and Information Technologies (ITEFI), in Madrid.
The robot has GPS for outdoor navigation and takes advantage of tools such as Google Maps to guide to different places, such as stores, restaurants and hospitals. Likewise, the researchers have implemented artificial vision algorithms that help their navigation and the identification of certain objects, such as traffic signs, traffic lights, streets, people, chairs, tables, computers or QR code information.
Multiple applications of the TEFI robot for the blind or people with dementia
Apart from its usefulness in guiding the blind, its creators especially highlight its potential when it comes to assisting elderly people with dementia or Alzheimer’s patients. “In addition to notifying his owner of the time he has a doctor’s appointment, Tefi is able to guide him directly to the doctor’s office using only a map of the building that he can obtain if it is accessible. Thanks to its connection to the mobile telephone network, the robot can also request a taxi so that the patient does not have to worry about almost anything”, explains the doctor in Robotics Gerardo Portilla, father of this robotic dog, while giving him orders and It shows the different tools that it has.
The robotic dog Tefi is able to remind its “owner” of a medical appointment, guide him through the hospital to the consultation or ask him for a taxi to take him home when he leaves
Its quadrupedal shape makes it suitable for moving in any environment, even on stairs, and it is capable of doing a backflip. “It is very robust and dynamic in rugged environments and much cheaper than a guide dog. Currently, automatic driving for guidance has already been developed, as well as the necessary artificial intelligence for the detection of objects, people and signaling. He can communicate by voice with the person to carry out the tasks that are requested and can also tell what he sees through his camera and the information he receives from the internet, ”says Portilla.
Until now, the researchers have carried out different navigation tests inside the institute and have verified that the robot is capable of guiding the user to different areas of the building with voice commands. The scientists hope to soon start testing how Tefi navigates outdoors, where the environment is more dynamic.
“The application that this robot has is above all social, and that is what differentiates it from the dog of the American company Boston Dynamics, which was designed for industrial purposes. Obviously, it will never replace an animal, which provides companionship and affection, but the range of possibilities and applications is quite wide,” says Francisco Montero de Espinosa, a CSIC researcher at the same center.
Although Tefi’s design is still preliminary, the researchers hope to be able to install sensors in a short period of time that can detect warning signs, such as high blood pressure or the presence of volatile chemical agents in a home. “Human-machine and machine-machine communication is the hallmark of this robot. In order for its potential to be complete, it is key to ensure that it learns behaviors on its own, something that we are focused on right now”, concludes Montero de Espinosa.
Source: CSIC
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