The RoboGuide prototype

“Experts from the University of Glasgow have partnered with industry and two leading charities (Forth Valley Sensory Centre and to develop the RoboGuide, an AI-powered four-legged robot which aims to help people with visual impairment move more independently through museums, shopping centres, hospitals and other public places in the future. The RoboGuide prototype integrates a range of cutting-edge technologies into an off-the-shelf robot body to help overcome the challenges preventing robots from being more widely used to assist blind and partially sighted people.” – University of Glasgow – University news – Paw-sitive reception for robot guide dog could lead to new assistive technology. (n.d.). https://www.gla.ac.uk/news/headline_1043333_en.html

It is important because it is an alternative solution for “classic”, alive guide dogs that may provoke allergies etc. It could also provide people with a visual impairment with more independence. It is also an alternative solution to other robots based on different technology that suffer from the lack of internet for GPS or other, therefore making them useless in places like museums that do not always have 3, 4 or 5G. Thanks to roboguide sensors, they are also better than classical robots that use electric “eyes” that only let them see in one line of sight, therefore making it harder for them to navigate in a space full of objects=obstacles or in a space where the surface is robot-unfriendly.

https://www.gla.ac.uk/news/headline_1043333_en.html

Sensors on the robot to map their surroundings to help avoid obstacles, and “feel” if the terrain is not straight (it maintains stability), “large language model technology, lending it the ability to understand questions and comments from users and provide verbal responses in return”. The robodog can identify when it needs charging and go to a charging station by itself. It is AI-based/powered.

Multilingual support will be provided in the later phases of development

Blind people and people with visual impairment

For now it is a prototype, so the finance model hasn’t been established. However, we can speculate that, once purchased by the cultural establishment, the RoboGuide could be available free of charge for the visitors.

n/c yet as it is a prototype

n/c yet as it is a prototype

n/c yet as it is a prototype

Is a prototype so will probably be constantly ameliorated before its official launch.

n/c yet as it is a prototype

“Ultimately, our aim is to develop a complete system which can be adapted for use with robots of all shapes and sizes to help blind and partially sighted people in a wide range of indoor situations. We hope that we can create a robust commercial product which can support the visually impaired wherever they might want extra help.”

Dr Wasim Ahmad, of the James Watt School of Engineering, and a co-investor of the project

The RoboGuide system uses a series of sophisticated sensors mounted on the robot’s exterior to accurately map and assess its surroundings. Software developed by the team help it learn the optimal routes between locations and interpret the sensor data in real-time to help the robot avoid the many moving obstacles it might encounter while guiding a human.

The RoboGuide also incorporates large language model technology, lending it the ability to understand questions and comments from users and provide verbal responses in return.

For now, the robot was tested at the Hunterian, Scotland’s oldest museum.

“Our assistive technology project for the visually impaired embodies innovation, fostering inclusivity. In Glasgow, we’re pioneering world-changing technologies that hold the potential to transform lives and reshape societal norms. This achievement was made possible through collaboration with industry and charity partners and co-creating the design with the invaluable input of end users.”

Professor Muhammad Imran, Dean of graduate studies at the University of Glasgow’s James Watt School of Engineering, and co-investor of the project