Focus Group Evaluation of an Overhead Kitchen Robot Appliance

We developed and evaluated an assistive robotic manipulator called KitchenBot that operates along an overhead track built into the kitchen to assist individuals with upper extremity impairments for common kitchen tasks. Focus groups conducted with eleven participants from the potential user population revealed that potential users had very positive perceptions, opinions, and attitudes toward an overhead kitchen robot appliance. Most of participants felt that Kitchen was not only easy to use, but it was also able to allow them to complete tasks they currently could not do independently.