Remote Operation of Robots via Mobile Devices to Help People with Intellectual Disabilities

Despite the rapid advances in technology relatively few are focused on special education, or the education for people with profound and multiple disabilities. One of the main causes for this to happen is that there is little incentive for companies to design and manufacture technology for a target group of customers without major buying power, or one that makes up a relatively small proportion of the population. Therefore, the most reasonable option is to take the technological tools that are already available, and adapt them to meet the requirements of those with profound and multiple disabilities. This paper presents the design and development of an application for mobile devices that will enable easy and intuitive use of the humanoid robot NAO (manufactured by Aldebaran Robotics) by people with profound and multiple disabilities, as well as by educators in the area of special education. This includes also the adaptation and development of several behaviours and modules for this specific robot.