Towards a robust robotic assistant for Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment procedures: the CLARC system

Abstract

Socially assistive robots appear as a powerful tool in the upcoming silver society. They are among the technologies for Assisted Living, offering a natural interface with smart environments, while helping people through social interaction. The CLARC project aims to develop a socially assistive robot to help clinicians perform Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) procedures. This robot autonomously drives some tests and processes, saving time for the clinician to perform more added-value activities, like designing care plans. The project has recently finished its first two phases, and now it faces its final one. This paper details the current prototype of the CLARC system and the main results collected so far during its evaluation. Then, it describes the updates and modifications planned for the next year, in which long term extensive evaluations will be conducted to validate its acceptability and utility.