Matching Input and Output Devices and Physical Disabilities for Human-Robot Workstations
Carlo Weidemann, Nils Mandischer, Burkhard Corves
TL;DR
This paper tackles the challenge of enabling people with disabilities to work at human-robot workstations by automating the selection of input and output devices tailored to individual disabilities. It introduces an ICF-aligned, VDI 2221-compatible design method that uses a morphological box to map device types to disability categories and degrees, integrated into an interactive mock-up for non-expert designers. Key contributions include a workstation structure framework, a disability-to-device matching approach, and a GUI-based mock-up demonstrating two real-world scenarios. The method aims to reduce cost and complexity of inclusive workstation design, though it currently lacks prioritization and full-system implementation details, and should be used as a decision-support tool rather than a replacement for design expertise.
Abstract
As labor shortage is rising at an alarming rate, it is imperative to enable all people to work, particularly people with disabilities and elderly people. Robots are often used as universal tool to assist people with disabilities. However, for such human-robot workstations universal design fails. We mitigate the challenges of selecting an individualized set of input and output devices by matching devices required by the work process and individual disabilities adhering to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities passed by the United Nations. The objective is to facilitate economically viable workstations with just the required devices, hence, lowering overall cost of corporate inclusion and during redesign of workplaces. Our work focuses on developing an efficient approach to filter input and output devices based on a person's disabilities, resulting in a tailored list of usable devices. The methodology enables an automated assessment of devices compatible with specific disabilities defined in International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. In a mock-up, we showcase the synthesis of input and output devices from disabilities, thereby providing a practical tool for selecting devices for individuals with disabilities.