Robots in hospitals have performed surgeries, sponge baths and even been used to ‘console’ patients. Now computer engineers from Vanderbilt University want them to help in emergency rooms as well. In a paper published December 6 titled, “Heterogeneous Artificial Agents for Triage Nurse Assistance” the engineers, headed by associate professor Mitch Wilkes, propose a system of ‘smart’ robots that would gather information on a patient, help with clerical issues and assist doctors with triage. Called ‘TriageBot’, the robot will work in tandem with ‘smart chairs’ that our outfitted with diagnostic equipment that would help with data gathering on less than critical patients. Wilkes says that, “Advances in humanoid robotic design, in sensor technology and in cognitive control architectures now make such a system feasible.” That’s all fine and good but what about the robots appearance? If some form of mechanical monstrosity shows up with spinning blades and a cauterizer to check out a six year old there might be a problem, however professor of electrical engineering Kazuhiko Kawamura had this to say about the subject, “The exact form that the robot assistants will take will depend on how patients respond, the design will be critical because patients need to have confidence in these devices.” That’s a relief. Nobody wants a robot that looks like a Dalek to perform simple diagnoses. For more information on TriageBot please visit: http://news.vanderbilt.edu/2010/12/developing-robots-for-the-hospital-emergency-room/
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