Development of Hospital Guide Robot With Stable Mobility and Improved Human-robot Interaction

Using robots to guide humans in large and complex environments has been a longstanding research topic in robotics. Two technical factors for guide robots: 1) stable mobility and 2) human-robot interaction capability. This study introduces a hospital guide robot with improvements in these areas. We first constructed the robot’s mechanical and electrical systems. To achieve stable mobility, we analyzed the kinematics of the robot and implemented a pose estimation algorithm using a sensor fusion technique. Secondly, we developed the “Hospital Guidance System” software to enhance the human-robot interaction capability. Using a quick response code-based system, hospital visitors can seamlessly access medical care and guidance. We conducted experiments to validate the robot’s ability to provide hospital guidance services based on pre-defined scenarios.