SARA — an accessible shell for a service robot

Forum Virium Helsinki's Social & Autonomous Robotic Health Assistant project explored how robots could support care staff and provide meaningful social activities for residents in assisted living. Our brief was to design and deliver a prototype shell combining a commercially available Sanbot Elf robot with a navigation platform developed by GIM Robotics.

2019

My role: Concept design, usability research, solid modeling, 3D printing and prototyping

In collaboration with Jessica Falck and Ville Ojala

Letting usability shape the design

After the initial sketches, we observed the robot in its intended environment. This revealed a practical issue: when mounted on the navigation platform, the robot's touchscreen would be difficult for some older users to reach. We adjusted the concept to tilt the robot toward the user.

Hand-drawn sketches exploring the SARA robot shell — Sketching

Usability observation with a seated user and the robot on its navigation platform — Usability observations

Developing the shell around the hardware

We built quick mockups, presented them to the client and used 3D scans and measurements of the supplied hardware to develop the design.

Preparing the robot hardware for 3D scanning in the workshop — Preparation for 3D scanning

Small physical mockups exploring the shape of the robot shell — Concept mockups

From surface model to physical prototype

Jessica developed the surface model, which I then converted into a solid model suitable for 3D printing. I divided the shell into five sections and added fixing points. We also incorporated a compartment for small items the robot might need to carry.

3D printing sections of the SARA robot shell — 3D printing

Fitting shell sections around the robot and navigation platform — Fitting the parts

Assembling and adjusting the printed shell in the workshop — Assembly

The finished prototype

The parts were printed, assembled and adjusted before receiving a white gloss finish. The shell was prepared for a planned trial at Kustaankartano in fall 2019.

Rear view of the finished SARA shell with the compartment lid closed — Finished shell — compartment closed

Rear view of the finished SARA shell with the lid open, showing the compartment and access to internal hardware — Finished shell — compartment open

↑Back to Top