The service robot developed by Georgia Technology researchers has been able to complete 10 tasks and commands usually taught to service dogs at Georgia Canines for Independence (GCI), Acworth, Ga., such as opening drawers and doors, with good efficiency. Other successes included opening a microwave oven, delivering an object, and placing an item on a table.

Researchers have engineered a robot that duplicates most actions performed by the service dogs kept by people with disabilities. For instance, users verbally command the robot to complete a task and the robot responds once a laser pointer illuminates the location of the needed action. If a person needs an item fetched, that individual would normally command a service dog to do so and then gesture with their hands toward the location. The service robot mimics the process, with the hand gesture replaced by aiming the laser pointer at the desired item.

Service dogs are an elite breed. Without them, some tasks would be impossible for some people. Yet even with costs averaging $16,000 per dog, and two years of training required to hone their skills, demand for the canines exceeds their availability.

The duties could be accomplished with an electronic companion that provides the same efficiency at a fraction of the cost say researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Users can complete basic yet challenging tasks such as opening doors, drawers, and retrieving medication. “Service dogs have a great history of helping people, but with a five to seven year waiting list, we think robots will eventually help to meet those needs,” says Georgia Tech Department of Biomedical Engineering Professor Charlie Kemp.

Graduate student Hai Nguyen and Kemp worked with trainers at GCI to research command categories and interaction that are core to the relationship between individuals and service dogs.

For instance, one Golden Retriever was studied to understand her movements and relationship with commands. A key to success is the dog’s ability to work with a towel attached to a drawer or door handle, which lets her use her mouth for such actions as opening and closing. The robot was then designed to use the towel in a similar manner. “I believe we’re going to achieve the capabilities of a service dog in a robot sooner than those of a human caregiver into a robot,” says Kemp.