Relative performance analysis for robot rehabilitation procedure with two simultaneous users

This paper presents the results obtained in experiments that integrate two robots with two subjects playing a competitive game for rehabilitation purposes. The competitive game developed to the experiments is inspired on go-karting racing cars. Additionally the game proposes a performance measure that takes separately into account individual performance. Performance is measured based on the comparison of time that the user required to accomplish a task with an ideal minimal time. The ideal time is calculated based on the current settings, e.g. car speed, each user is subjected. A socket based network structure allows the users to play and perform rehabilitation remotely. Some hypotheses that are investigated: Does the velocity of the car is a feasible parameter to increases the game difficulty? Are there performance parameters that allow equalizing players with different performance and skills to compete in similar conditions? The results of a pilot test with non-impaired volunteers using the game show that time based performance represent a promising parameter for performance equalization.