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Vizzy: A Humanoid on Wheels for Assistive Robotics

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Robot 2015: Second Iberian Robotics Conference

Part of the book series: Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing ((AISC,volume 417))

Abstract

The development of an assistive robotic platform poses exciting engineering and design challenges due to the diversity of possible applications. This article introduces Vizzy, a wheeled humanoid robot with an anthropomorphic upper torso, that combines easy mobility, grasping ability, human-like visual perception, eye-head movements and arm gestures. The humanoid appearance improves user acceptance and facilitates interaction. The lower body mobile platform is able to navigate both indoors and outdoors. We describe the requirements, design and construction of Vizzy, as well as its current cognitive capabilities and envisaged domains of application.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Systems and Robotics (ISR/IST), LARSyS, Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, Torre Norte Piso 7, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001, Lisboa, Portugal

    Plinio Moreno, Ricardo Nunes, Rui Figueiredo, Ricardo Ferreira, Alexandre Bernardino, José Santos-Victor, Ricardo Beira, Luís Vargas, Duarte Aragão & Miguel Aragão

Authors
  1. Plinio Moreno
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  2. Ricardo Nunes
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  3. Rui Figueiredo
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  4. Ricardo Ferreira
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  5. Alexandre Bernardino
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  6. José Santos-Victor
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  7. Ricardo Beira
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  8. Luís Vargas
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  9. Duarte Aragão
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  10. Miguel Aragão
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Plinio Moreno .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Info Syst Dept;Campus de Azurém, University of Minho, Guimarães, Portugal

    Luís Paulo Reis

  2. Electrical and Computer Engineering Dept, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

    António Paulo Moreira

  3. Instituto Superior Tecnico - Torre Norte, University of Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal

    Pedro U. Lima

  4. Engineering Dept., E. Ada Byron, Univ of Zaragoza, Computer & Systems, Zaragoza, Spain

    Luis Montano

  5. Automatic Control and Systems Eng. Dept., University of Malaga, Superior Technical, Málaga, Spain

    Victor Muñoz-Martinez

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Moreno, P. et al. (2016). Vizzy: A Humanoid on Wheels for Assistive Robotics. In: Reis, L., Moreira, A., Lima, P., Montano, L., Muñoz-Martinez, V. (eds) Robot 2015: Second Iberian Robotics Conference. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, vol 417. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27146-0_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27146-0_2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-27145-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-27146-0

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

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