Masterthesis: Design of a VR-Environment for clinical Human-Robot-Interaction

14.02.2025, Abschlussarbeiten, Bachelor- und Masterarbeiten

When working with robotic assistance systems in the operating theater, surgeons and assistant physicians may have to adopt unergonomic postures. As part of the project, a VR environment is to be created that enables the experimental investigation of human-robot interactions in a virtual clinical environment. As part of the project, the course of an operation is to be recreated with the help of infrared tracking and haptics and evaluated in a user study. The study builds on preliminary student work. The technical basis is provided by the Unity development environment and the Vicon infrared camera system. At the end of the work, a functional 3D environment is to be created that can be used for ergonomic studies.

Background

When working with robotic assistance systems in the operating theater, surgeons and assistant physicians may have to adopt unergonomic postures. To better investigate these postures and evalute early prototypes of potential solutions a VR environment is to be created that let's subjects go through the motions of laparoscopic surgery.

Task

As part of the project, a VR environment is to be created that enables the experimental investigation of human-robot interactions in a virtual clinical environment. The steps of a laparoscopic operation are to be recreated with the help of infrared tracking and haptics and evaluated in a user study. The study builds on preceding student work. The technical basis is provided by the Unity development environment and the Vicon infrared camera system. At the end of the work, a functional 3D environment is to be created that can be used for ergonomic studies.

Required Skills

• Ability to work independently
• Good knowledge of the German and English language
• Knowledge/experience in the design of Unity environments
• Basic knowledge of camera-based motion capture and/or clinical workflows desirable

Time Frame

The Masterthesis is to start around April 1st and end after 6 month.

Kontakt: max.bergholz@tum.de