Images from public domain.

We invite you to take part in a study on robot assistance with activities of daily living and earn $25 in the process!

In the first part of the experiment, participants will be asked to watch a robot assistant performing activities of daily living, such as placing an object on a shelf. Participants will be asked to report their satisfaction with the robot’s performance using a joystick and a brief survey. In the second part of the experiment, participants will use their eyes to control the movement of the robot assistant in order to perform simple everyday tasks that involve actions such as reaching, grasping, and pouring. Throughout the experiment, participants will wear sensors to collect data on their head movements, eye movements, heart rate, and sweat rate.

Although there will be no direct benefits to participants, a better understanding of satisfactory robot performance and eye gaze-based predictors of human intent could lead to improved collaborative human-robot systems, such as wheelchair-mounted robots and service robots.

Participants must meet the following criteria:

  • Be at least 18 years old, but younger than 65 years old
  • Be able to perform everyday activities without eyeglasses (contact lenses are OK)
  • Have no current impairment or history of impairment of their dominant hand, and can operate a simple joystick
  • Have no known neurological or neuromuscular disorders
  • Be in general good health
  • Be proficient in English
  • Have no known allergies or skin irritation to electrode gels

In order to compensate participants for travel costs and/or infringement of personal time, participants will receive a $25 Amazon gift card for completion of a single 60-90 min. experimental session.

During the experiment, still photos and digital video will be taken of each participant as they are seated at a table. Any identifying features (e.g., face, voice) will be blocked or removed during post-processing, prior to the dissemination of research results. Participants will be identified through a numerical code only and their data will be accessible only to approved members of the research team.

Prior to their entry to the research building, a researcher will conduct with participants a UCLA-approved, COVID-19 symptom pre-screening survey designed for campus visitors. Participants will be required to wear a facemask at all times while in the research building and throughout the experimental session.

For more information, you may contact Xiaoyu Wang (wangxiaoyuqwe@gmail.com), Alireza Haji Fathaliyan (alihajif@ucla.edu), or Dr. Veronica J. Santos (vjsantos@ucla.edu) at the UCLA Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department.

If you choose to respond by email, do not include any sensitive health information, as the confidentiality of emails cannot be guaranteed.

If you have questions about your rights as a research subject, or you have concerns or suggestions and you want to talk to someone other than the researchers, you may contact the UCLA OHRPP by phone: (310) 206-2040; by email: participants@research.ucla.edu or by mail: Box 951406, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1406.

Protocol ID: IRB#21-000660

UCLA IRB Approval Date: 6/10/2021

Committee: Medical IRB 1