The OPERA project aims to develop an innovative Bio-cooperative Robotic Platform (PRoBio) for virtual reality rehabilitation tailored to the characteristics of the individual patient with Parkinson's Disease (MP) in order to optimize their autonomy and quality of life. PRoBio will integrate a service robot (TIAGo, PAL Robotics SL) and a modular system that will provide cognitive-motor rehabilitation exercises in virtual mode (VRRSS, Khymeia) on a monitor installed on the robot. PRoBio will present an advanced multimodal architecture that dynamically monitors the patient's cognitive-motor-emotional state to assess their performance and compliance with interaction with the robot and rehabilitation exercises. The VRRSS system will deliver visual and vocal feedback and TIAGo physical feedback with its robotic arm. Rehabilitation activities will then be performed under appropriate bio-cooperative conditions consistent with the readings and feedback.
1 October 2024 – 28 February 2025
The OPERA project – biO-cooPErativa Robotics Platform for cognitive-motor rehabilitation with virtual reality in Parkinson's disease – has completed WP1 and WP2 activities and launched WP3. In WP1, the administrative procedures (ATS, APID) were completed, the submission to the Ethics Committee (approval 12/02/2025) was finalised, and the documentation for notification to the Ministry of Health was prepared (to be sent by 30/03/2025, 30-day delay), with patient enrolment planning and document uploading to AT WORK. In WP2 (D2.1-D2.3, 100%), focus groups were held with patients, caregivers and operators, the technical requirements of PRoBio (modular wireless architecture, ROS, 7 GdL, RGB-D camera) and the neuropsychological and usability measures for the pilot study were defined, and cognitive training modules (VRRS executive functions) were developed. In WP3, the development of the robotic architecture (7+1 GdL control algorithm, REST Flask API for robot and patient monitoring) and the multimodal architecture (physiological sensors, MediaPipe skeleton tracking, data fusion, real-time streaming) was started, with 50% and 25% completion respectively. The milestones have progressed (MS1 70%, MS2 0%). The main critical issues concern the delay in ministerial notification and the delivery of the TIAGo robots (March 2025), which postpone the start of patient recruitment to May, with a recovery plan by the end of the project.