MOnarCH · Multi-Robot Cognitive Systems Operating in Hospitals

MOnarCH targets (i) the development of a novel framework to model mixed human-robot societies, and (ii) its demonstration using a network of heterogeneous robots and sensors, in the pediatric area of an oncological hospital. It will handle uncertainties introduced by people and robots, generate natural interactions, and engage in edutainment activities.The expected outcomes are (i) an operational system able to interact with people in a natural way, (ii) novel results on key properties of networked robot systems, and (iii) guidelines to translate the system to applications in hospital environments, and further scenarios sharing similarities with them, e.g., kindergarten, and personal assistance to elderly at home.Innovation is expected mainly in (i) the modeling and analysis of the dynamics of social organizations, and social individuals, (ii) the mapping between such models and implementable systems, (iii) the integration between models related to social and asocial behaviors, (iv) the introduction of creative methods of interaction between people and robots, based on models of the dynamics of social organizations and individuals, and (v) the adaptation of robots to individuals and groups of people. This framework will map concepts in social sciences into social skills, group behaviors, and human-robot interaction, using learning methodologies and decision-theoretic principles.Functional tests will be executed using the networked robotics environment at IST and other partners. Technologies such as a network of fixed cameras, RFID tags, teleoperation devices, voice generation, both isolated and combined as augmented reality interfaces, will be used. Specific tests will be carried out in a real hospital, at IPOL.The Consortium is formed by research institutions, SMEs, and one hospital, and has the competences to (i) ensure that the deployed system fully complies with the hospital requirements, and (iii) enable the transition to market of the obtained solutions.