“The project goals reflect real-world scenarios people with disabilities need to navigate, Cooper said. For example: RAMMP preparing lunch. The robotic arm, equipped with vision, could open the refrigerator, pick up a pre-packaged lunch, open the lid, place the meal in the microwave, heat it and take it to the table. With each new task, the robotic arm learns and applies that knowledge to future situations.
Another key objective: RAMMP will use AI and digital twins to learn physical space layouts and configurations, so the wheelchair knows how to get from point A to point B, including corners, doorways and tight spaces. RAMMP will have a variety of interfaces, such as speech and movement, so users with all types of disabilities can direct it. “Everybody has different physical, sensory or cognitive abilities, so we’ve got to have the robot meet them where they are,” Cooper said.”